Dam No 7-8 dam
Dam No 7-8
Dam No 7-8, also known as Upper Verdigris Watershed Dam 7-8, is a significant earth dam located in Virgil, Greenwood County, Kansas. Constructed in 1970 by A&E and USDA SCS designers, this dam plays a crucial role in flood risk reduction for the Holderman Creek-TR river system. With a height of 51 feet and a length of 1870 feet, Dam No 7-8 has a storage capacity of 3517 acre-feet, serving as a vital water supply source for the region.
Managed by the local government and regulated by the Kansas Department of Agriculture, Dam No 7-8 holds a fair condition assessment and a significant hazard potential rating. Despite its age, the dam continues to fulfill its primary purpose of flood risk reduction, with a spillway width of 100 feet for uncontrolled water release. The dam's location in a moderate risk area underscores the importance of regular inspections and emergency preparedness measures to ensure the safety of nearby communities and water resources.
As a key component of water resource management in Kansas, Dam No 7-8 stands as a testament to the collaboration between local and state agencies in safeguarding against floods and ensuring a stable water supply. With its strategic design and operational history, this dam serves as a critical infrastructure for climate enthusiasts and water resource professionals alike, highlighting the intersection of engineering, regulation, and environmental stewardship in mitigating natural hazards and sustaining water security for future generations.
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 Dam No 7-8 -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Verdigris R Nr Virgil | 1,830 cfs | → |
| Cottonwood R Nr Plymouth | 876 cfs | → |
| Neosho R At Burlington | 1,340 cfs | → |
| Neosho R Nr Americus | 829 cfs | → |
| Otter C At Climax | 13 cfs | → |
| Marais Des Cygnes R Nr Reading | 1,610 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Dam No 7-8.
Campgrounds
- West Wingwall - John Redmond Reservoir
- Hickory Creek West - John Redmond Reservoir
- Hickory Creek East - John Redmond Reservoir
- Kelley City Park
- Riverside West - John Redmond Reservoir
- Redmond Cove North - John Redmond Reservoir
Fishing spots
- Chase State Fishing Lake
- El Dorado East Park Pond
- Council Grove Reservoir
- Butler State Lake
- Augusta City Lake
More reservoirs
Track Dam No 7-8 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 Dam No 7-8
Where does the data for Dam No 7-8 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 Significant 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.
Other water bodies near here
Snoflo-tracked reservoirs and dams within driving distance of Dam No 7-8.