Detention Dam No Sp-6 dam
Detention Dam No Sp-6
Detention Dam No Sp-6, located in El Dorado, Kansas, was completed in 1995 with the primary purpose of flood risk reduction along the East Branch Walnut River. This earth dam, designed by SCS, stands at a height of 18 feet and spans a length of 1080 feet, providing a storage capacity of 156.09 acre-feet. The dam's spillway type is uncontrolled with a width of 50 feet, serving as a crucial debris control and flood risk reduction structure in the region.
Despite being classified as having a low hazard potential, Detention Dam No Sp-6 is rated as having a moderate risk level, indicating a need for ongoing monitoring and maintenance. The dam has not been inspected since its completion in 1995, highlighting the importance of regular assessments to ensure its continued effectiveness in mitigating flood risks. With a surface area of 4.37 acres and a normal storage capacity of 14 acre-feet, this dam plays a vital role in protecting the surrounding area from potential flood events.
As a key component in the local government's flood risk reduction strategy, Detention Dam No Sp-6 serves as a critical infrastructure asset in the region. With its strategic location and design features, including an earth core and buttress structure, the dam provides essential protection against inundation from the East Branch Walnut River. Moving forward, continued monitoring and risk assessment will be essential to ensure the long-term resilience and effectiveness of this important water resource management facility.
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 Detention Dam No Sp-6 -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Cedar C Nr Cedar Point | 36 cfs | → |
| Cottonwood R Nr Florence | 130 cfs | → |
| Whitewater R At Towanda | 39 cfs | → |
| Otter C At Climax | 13 cfs | → |
| Cottonwood R Nr Plymouth | 876 cfs | → |
| Verdigris R Nr Virgil | 1,830 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Detention Dam No Sp-6.
Track Detention Dam No Sp-6 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 Detention Dam No Sp-6
Where does the data for Detention Dam No Sp-6 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 Detention Dam No Sp-6.