Fawn Lake Dam dam
Fawn Lake Dam
Fawn Lake Dam, located in Wichita, Kansas, serves as a recreational spot for water resource and climate enthusiasts. Built in 1950, this earth dam stands at a height of 13 feet and has a storage capacity of 33.9 acre-feet. The dam, primarily designed for recreation, spans 430 feet in length and is situated on the East Branch Chisholm-Tr river.
Despite its scenic appeal, Fawn Lake Dam poses a high hazard potential and has not been rated for its condition assessment. The last inspection took place in October 2000, with a frequency of every 3 years. The dam has no outlet gates and is not regulated by the state, presenting potential safety concerns for the surrounding area. The lack of emergency action plans and risk management measures raises further alarms regarding the dam's readiness in case of a natural disaster.
For those interested in water resources and climate change, Fawn Lake Dam provides a case study in the importance of proper dam maintenance and emergency preparedness. With its significant storage capacity and high hazard potential, the dam serves as a reminder of the need for ongoing monitoring and risk assessment in the face of evolving environmental conditions. As enthusiasts continue to appreciate the recreational opportunities offered by the dam, attention must also be paid to ensuring its safety and resilience in the years to come.
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 Fawn Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Arkansas R Nr Maize | 256 cfs | → |
| Floodway At Arkansas R At Wichita | · | → |
| L Arkansas R At Valley Center | 652 cfs | → |
| Arkansas R At Wichita | 345 cfs | → |
| Floodway At L Arkansas R At Valley Center | · | → |
| Cowskin C At 119th St At Wichita | 12 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Fawn Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- East 29th Street North Wichita
- Wichita
- East 45th Street North 1221, Park City
- West 55th Street South 1378, Wichita
- Chelsea
Campgrounds
- Mcconnell Afb Military
- Santa Fe Lake - Augusta
- Lake Afton Park
- Walnut River Rv Park
- El Dorado State Park
Track Fawn 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 Fawn Lake Dam
Where does the data for Fawn 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 High 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 Fawn Lake Dam.