Yates Center Reservoir Dam (Multi-Purpose Dam) dam
Yates Center Reservoir Dam (Multi-Purpose Dam)
Yates Center Reservoir Dam, located in Woodson County, Kansas, is a multi-purpose dam built in 1990 for flood risk reduction, recreation, and water supply. Designed by ARCH, GRIFFITH, SHETLAR, this earth dam stands at a height of 46.5 feet and spans 840 feet in length, with a storage capacity of 4777.5 acre-feet. Situated on Big Sandy Creek-TR, the dam serves as a vital infrastructure for managing the local watershed and protecting the surrounding area from potential flooding events.
Managed by the local government, this dam is regulated, permitted, inspected, and enforced by the Kansas Department of Agriculture, ensuring its safe operation and compliance with state regulations. With a significant hazard potential but a satisfactory condition assessment, Yates Center Reservoir Dam plays a crucial role in safeguarding the community and supporting various recreational activities. Its strategic location, in close proximity to Benedict, adds to its accessibility and importance in the region.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Yates Center Reservoir Dam presents a fascinating example of a well-designed earth dam that serves multiple purposes while mitigating flood risks and providing essential water supply. With its impressive storage capacity, surface area, and drainage area, this dam stands as a testament to effective water management and infrastructure development in Kansas, benefiting both the local ecosystem and the community at large.
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 Yates Center Reservoir Dam (Multi-Purpose Dam) -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Verdigris R Nr Virgil | 285 cfs | → |
| Neosho R Nr Iola | 2,110 cfs | → |
| Fall R At Fredonia | 106 cfs | → |
| Otter C At Climax | 22 cfs | → |
| Verdigris R Nr Altoona | 211 cfs | → |
| Neosho R At Burlington | 452 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Yates Center Reservoir Dam (Multi-Purpose Dam).
Track Yates Center Reservoir Dam (Multi-Purpose 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 Yates Center Reservoir Dam (Multi-Purpose Dam)
Where does the data for Yates Center Reservoir Dam (Multi-Purpose 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 Yates Center Reservoir Dam (Multi-Purpose Dam).