Detention Dam Sp-8 dam
Detention Dam Sp-8
Detention Dam Sp-8, located in Butler, Kansas, serves as a vital flood risk reduction structure along Bird Creek. Designed by SCS, this earth dam stands at a height of 16.2 feet, with a storage capacity of 152 acre-feet and a surface area of 4 acres. Despite being classified as having a low hazard potential, it plays a crucial role in managing stormwater and protecting the surrounding area from potential flooding events.
The dam, completed at an unknown date, features an uncontrolled spillway with a width of 50 feet. With a drainage area of 0.41 square miles and a maximum discharge capacity of 491 cubic feet per second, it effectively regulates water flow during heavy rainfall. Although it has not been inspected since July 1995, the structure's moderate risk assessment rating suggests that it is in satisfactory condition and continues to fulfill its flood risk reduction purpose.
Owned by the local government, Detention Dam Sp-8 exemplifies the collaborative efforts between state agencies and designers to safeguard communities from water-related disasters. Its strategic location and design further highlight the importance of sustainable water resource management and climate resilience in mitigating the impacts of extreme weather events in the region.
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 Sp-8 -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Whitewater R At Towanda | 109 cfs | → |
| Otter C At Climax | 25 cfs | → |
| Cedar C Nr Cedar Point | 32 cfs | → |
| Cottonwood R Nr Florence | 114 cfs | → |
| Arkansas R At Derby | 1,020 cfs | → |
| Arkansas R At Wichita | 775 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Detention Dam Sp-8.
Boat launches
- Chelsea
- East 29th Street North Wichita
- North Lake Road Winfield
- Old 82nd Road Winfield
- South Lake Road Winfield
Campgrounds
Fishing spots
- El Dorado East Park Pond
- Augusta City Lake
- Butler State Lake
- Augusta - Santa Fe Lake
- Rose Hill - School St. Pond
- Wichita - K-96 Lake
More reservoirs
Track Detention Dam Sp-8 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 Sp-8
Where does the data for Detention Dam Sp-8 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.