Santa Fe Lake Dam dam
Santa Fe Lake Dam
Santa Fe Lake Dam, located in Moline, Kansas, was completed in 1895 by the Santa Fe Railroad and serves as a recreational spot as well as a water supply source. The dam is an earth-type structure with a height of 25 feet and a length of 1200 feet, providing a storage capacity of 224 acre-feet. The dam is regulated by the Kansas Department of Agriculture and undergoes regular inspections, with a significant hazard potential due to its age and condition assessment being not rated.
Despite its age, Santa Fe Lake Dam continues to play a crucial role in water management for the Wildcat Creek-TR watershed in Elk County, Kansas. The dam's position in a drainage area of 1.23 square miles ensures that it serves as a key control point for water flow and storage, especially during times of heavy rainfall or flooding events. With a spillway width of 57 feet, the dam is equipped to manage excess water and maintain the safety of the surrounding area.
As a significant structure within the Kansas City District, Santa Fe Lake Dam is a testament to historical engineering and a vital resource for the local community. Its role in recreation and water supply highlights the importance of careful monitoring and maintenance to ensure its continued functionality in the face of changing climate conditions.
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 Santa Fe Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Elk R At Elk Falls | 55 cfs | → |
| Otter C At Climax | 13 cfs | → |
| Caney R Nr Elgin | 39 cfs | → |
| Fall R At Fredonia | 824 cfs | → |
| Verdigris R Nr Altoona | 225 cfs | → |
| Verdigris R At Independence | 772 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Santa Fe Lake Dam.
Boat launches
Campgrounds
- Moline City Park
- Quivira Scout Ranch
- Sedan City Park
- Fall River State Park
- Rock Ridge Cove North - Fall River Lake
- Damsite - Fall River Lake
Fishing spots
- Butler State Lake
- El Dorado East Park Pond
- Augusta City Lake
- Rose Hill - School St. Pond
- Mulvane-Cedar Brook Pond
- Augusta - Santa Fe Lake
More reservoirs
Track Santa Fe Lake Dam 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 Santa Fe Lake Dam
Where does the data for Santa Fe Lake Dam 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 Santa Fe Lake Dam.