Frd No 17 dam
Frd No 17
Located in Cowley, Kansas, Frd No 17, also known as Timber Creek Watershed Dam 17, is a vital flood risk reduction structure managed by the local government. Built in 1974 by the USDA NRCS, this earth dam stands at 42 feet high and spans 830 feet in length, with a storage capacity of 687.92 acre-feet. With a low hazard potential and a moderate risk assessment rating, this dam plays a crucial role in protecting the surrounding area from flooding and ensuring the safety of nearby residents.
Regulated by the Kansas Department of Agriculture, Frd No 17 is equipped with an uncontrolled spillway and lacks outlet gates. Despite not being currently rated for its condition, this dam is regularly inspected for any necessary maintenance or repairs. With a surface area of 15 acres and a drainage area of 1.43 square miles, Frd No 17 serves as a key component in the flood management infrastructure of the region, providing both flood protection and water resource management benefits to the community of Floral and beyond.
As a significant structure in the Timber Creek-TR watershed, Frd No 17 contributes to the overall water resource management efforts in Kansas. With its primary purpose being flood risk reduction, this dam continues to play a crucial role in safeguarding the area against potential flooding events. Its construction and operation are overseen by the Natural Resources Conservation Service, highlighting the collaborative effort between local and federal agencies to ensure the safety and resilience of the region's water infrastructure in the face of climate change challenges.
Dam data reference
Condition Assessment
- Satisfactory
- No existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. Acceptable performance is expected under all loading conditions (static, hydrologic, seismic) in accordance with the minimum applicable state or federal regulatory criteria or tolerable risk guidelines.
- Fair
- No existing dam safety deficiencies are recognized for normal operating conditions. Rare or extreme hydrologic and/or seismic events may result in a dam safety deficiency. Risk may be in the range to take further action.
- Poor
- A dam safety deficiency is recognized for normal operating conditions which may realistically occur. Remedial action is necessary. POOR may also be used when uncertainties exist as to critical analysis parameters which identify a potential dam safety deficiency.
- Unsatisfactory
- A dam safety deficiency is recognized that requires immediate or emergency remedial action for problem resolution.
- Not Rated
- The dam has not been inspected, is not under state or federal jurisdiction, or has been inspected but, for whatever reason, has not been rated.
Hazard Potential Classification
- High
- Dams assigned the high hazard potential classification are those where failure or mis-operation will probably cause loss of human life.
- Significant
- Dams assigned the significant hazard potential classification are those dams where failure or mis-operation results in no probable loss of human life but can cause economic loss, environmental damage, disruption of lifeline facilities, or impact other concerns. Significant hazard potential classification dams are often located in predominantly rural or agricultural areas but could be in areas with population and significant infrastructure.
- Low
- Dams assigned the low hazard potential classification are those where failure or mis-operation results in no probable loss of human life and low economic and/or environmental losses. Losses are principally limited to the owner's property.
- Undetermined
- Dams for which a downstream hazard potential has not been designated or is not provided.
Plan around the weather
Same NOAA / yr.no feed Snoflo's iOS app uses. Watch the precipitation column on the meteogram -- rain on the basin upstream typically lifts inflow 24-72 hours later.
Next 5 days, hour by hour
Temperature line with weather symbols on top, snow + rain accumulation as columns, humidity as a dotted line.
5-day forecast table
Every 3 hours, broken out across temperature, snow, rain, humidity, and wind. Each cell is colour-coded relative to the column min/max.
| Time | Condition | Temp (°F) | Snow (in) | Rain (in) | Humidity (%) | Wind (mps) | Wind dir |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loading detailed forecast… | |||||||
15-day temperature & precipitation
Daily temperatures, snow, and rain projected over the next two weeks.
Nearby streamflow gauges
USGS streamgauges around Frd No 17 -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Walnut R At Winfield | 129 cfs | → |
| Arkansas R At Arkansas City | 437 cfs | → |
| Arkansas R At Derby | 175 cfs | → |
| Whitewater R At Towanda | 24 cfs | → |
| Elk R At Elk Falls | 17 cfs | → |
| Slate C At Wellington | 6 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Frd No 17.
Track Frd No 17 in the Snoflo app
Save this dam as a favorite and get the local NOAA / yr.no forecast plus regional flow context wherever you are.
About Frd No 17
Where does the data for Frd No 17 come from?
Structural and regulatory data come from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' National Inventory of Dams (NID). Weather forecast comes from NOAA / yr.no -- the same feed Snoflo's iOS app uses.
How often is the report updated?
NID structural data refreshes annually as the Corps publishes updated assessments. The weather forecast refreshes throughout the day.
What does the Low hazard rating mean?
The Corps of Engineers' hazard potential classification grades probable consequences if the dam fails: High = probable loss of human life; Significant = no probable loss of human life but possible economic loss / environmental damage; Low = no probable loss of human life, only minor economic / environmental losses. See the Dam Data Reference card above for the full definitions.
What's "% of normal"?
The current storage value compared to the historical average storage on this calendar day. 100% = right on average; values above 100% mean above-normal storage (wet year); values below mean below-normal (dry year or drought).
Can I get alerts when storage crosses a threshold?
Yes -- alerts are managed in the Snoflo iOS app. Favorite this dam, set a threshold, and you'll get a push the moment conditions cross.