Frd No 15 dam
Frd No 15
Located in Winfield, Kansas, Frd No 15, also known as Rock Creek Watershed Dam 15, is a local government-owned structure designed by USDA SCS. The dam, situated in the Butler County, serves the primary purpose of flood risk reduction along the North Branch Rock Creek-TR. With a dam height of 37 feet and a hydraulic height of 28 feet, it boasts a storage capacity of 552 acre-feet with a normal storage of 39 acre-feet.
The dam, constructed of earth with a buttress core type, spans a length of 915 feet and covers a surface area of 11.24 acres. Although it has a low hazard potential and is currently rated as "Not Rated" in terms of condition assessment, Frd No 15 is regulated and inspected by the KS Dept. of Agriculture. The structure has not undergone any modifications since its last inspection in August 2011 and is not equipped with outlet gates or associated structures.
Despite its moderate risk assessment rating, Frd No 15 does not have an Emergency Action Plan in place nor does it meet certain guidelines for risk management. With an uncontrolled spillway type and a spillway width of 40 feet, the dam poses a moderate risk (3) to the surrounding area in case of a potential breach. As water resource and climate enthusiasts, the monitoring and maintenance of this critical infrastructure are essential to ensure the safety and protection of the community and environment it serves.
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 15 -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Whitewater R At Towanda | 27 cfs | → |
| Walnut R At Winfield | 132 cfs | → |
| Otter C At Climax | 7 cfs | → |
| Elk R At Elk Falls | 18 cfs | → |
| Arkansas R At Derby | 196 cfs | → |
| Arkansas R At Wichita | 169 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Frd No 15.
Boat launches
Campgrounds
Fishing spots
- Butler State Lake
- Augusta City Lake
- El Dorado East Park Pond
- Rose Hill - School St. Pond
- Augusta - Santa Fe Lake
- Mulvane-Cedar Brook Pond
More reservoirs
Track Frd No 15 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 15
Where does the data for Frd No 15 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.