Frd No 51 dam
Frd No 51
Frd No 51, located in Ness City, Kansas, is a vital flood risk reduction structure built in 1987 by the USDA NRCS. This earth dam stands at a height of 45 feet and spans a length of 2422 feet, with a storage capacity of 8834 acre-feet. With a primary purpose of flood risk reduction, the dam plays a crucial role in protecting the surrounding area from potential flooding events.
Managed by the Kansas Department of Agriculture, Frd No 51 is regulated, inspected, and enforced by state authorities to ensure its structural integrity and functionality. Despite its low hazard potential, the dam is considered to have a moderate risk level, highlighting the importance of ongoing risk assessment and management measures. With a spillway width of 500 feet and a maximum discharge capacity of 8704 cubic feet per second, the dam is equipped to handle high water flow during peak periods.
Overall, Frd No 51 serves as a key infrastructure asset in safeguarding the local community and environment from the impacts of flooding, demonstrating the critical role of water resource management in climate resilience efforts. Its design and construction by the Natural Resources Conservation Service reflect a commitment to sustainable water management practices, ensuring the long-term protection of the area against potential flood events. As water resource and climate enthusiasts, understanding the significance of structures like Frd No 51 is essential in promoting the sustainable management of water resources and enhancing climate adaptation efforts.
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 51 -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Smoky Hill R Nr Arnold | 0 cfs | → |
| Smoky Hill R At Elkader | · | → |
| Arkansas R At Garden City | · | → |
| Pawnee R Nr Burdett | · | → |
| Farmers Ditch Nr Deerfield | · | → |
| Arkansas R At Deerfield | · | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Frd No 51.
Track Frd No 51 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 51
Where does the data for Frd No 51 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.
Other water bodies near here
Snoflo-tracked reservoirs and dams within driving distance of Frd No 51.