Frd No 97 dam
Frd No 97
Located in Marshall, Kansas, Frd No 97 is a flood risk reduction structure with a primary purpose of mitigating potential flooding along the North Fork Black Vermillion River. Built in 1992 by the USDA NRCS, this earth dam stands at a height of 41 feet and spans 1920 feet in length, providing storage capacity of 2871 acre-feet. With a significant hazard potential and a fair condition assessment, Frd No 97 is regulated and inspected by the Kansas Department of Agriculture to ensure its effectiveness in flood control.
Despite its uncontrolled spillway type, Frd No 97 has a spillway width of 150 feet to safely release excess water during high-flow events. The dam's drainage area of 6.25 square miles and maximum discharge capacity of 5435 cubic feet per second highlight its crucial role in managing water levels and protecting surrounding areas from potential inundation. With consistent inspections every 5 years and a moderate risk assessment score of 3, Frd No 97 remains a key asset in the region's water resource and climate resilience efforts.
As a local government-owned structure, Frd No 97 not only serves as a critical flood control measure but also as a testament to collaborative efforts in water management. With its strategic location and efficient design, this dam exemplifies the commitment to safeguarding communities and ecosystems from the impacts of extreme weather events, showcasing the essential role of infrastructure in adapting to a changing climate.
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 97 -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Turkey C Nr Seneca | 76 cfs | → |
| Black Vermillion R Nr Frankfort | 99 cfs | → |
| Big Blue R At Marysville | 933 cfs | → |
| Big Blue R At Barneston Nebr | 862 cfs | → |
| North Fork Big Nemaha River At Humboldt | 340 cfs | → |
| L Blue R Nr Barnes | 389 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Frd No 97.
Boat launches
- Iron Horse Trail Lake
- Burchard Lake Wma
- Wolf - Wildcat
- Pony Creek Boat Ramp
- Big Indian Recreation Area
- Kirkmans Cove Lake
Track Frd No 97 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 97
Where does the data for Frd No 97 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.