Timber Hills Lake dam
Timber Hills Lake
Timber Hills Lake in Bourbon, Kansas, is a privately owned recreational lake nestled along the Little Osage River. Built in 2006 by designers Loren E. Drews and John George, this Earth-type dam stands at 35 feet high and boasts a storage capacity of 852.5 acre-feet. With a surface area of 39 acres and a drainage area of 1.46 square miles, Timber Hills Lake provides ample space for fishing, wildlife viewing, and other outdoor activities.
Despite its fair condition assessment, Timber Hills Lake poses a significant hazard potential and is subject to regular inspections by the Kansas Department of Agriculture. With a moderate risk assessment rating of 3, the lake is equipped with an uncontrolled spillway and no outlet gates. The surrounding area is under the jurisdiction of the state and is regulated, inspected, and enforced to ensure the safety and integrity of the dam. For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Timber Hills Lake offers a unique blend of recreational opportunities and environmental stewardship in a picturesque setting in southeastern Kansas.
For those interested in water resource management and climate conservation, Timber Hills Lake represents a harmonious balance between human recreation and natural preservation. With its strategic location along the Little Osage River and proximity to the Tulsa District, the lake serves as a vital ecosystem for fish and wildlife while also providing a serene retreat for outdoor enthusiasts. Despite its significant hazard potential, the dam at Timber Hills Lake remains a testament to responsible design and construction, ensuring that the surrounding community is prepared for any emergency situations. Whether you're a local resident or a visitor passing through Bourbon County, Timber Hills Lake is a must-visit destination for anyone passionate about water resources and climate sustainability.
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 Timber Hills Lake -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| L Osage R At Fulton | 3,180 cfs | → |
| Marmaton R Nr Marmaton | 194 cfs | → |
| Marmaton R Nr Uniontown | 240 cfs | → |
| Marmaton R Nr Fort Scott | 1,770 cfs | → |
| Marais Des Cygnes R Nr Ks-Mo St Line | 14,400 cfs | → |
| Marais Des Cygnes R At La Cygne | 11,700 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Timber Hills Lake.
Boat launches
- Kansas Road Marmaton
- South 1500 Road Vernon County
- West Atlantic Street 634, Nevada
- I 49;Us 71 Bates County
- Vernon County
Campgrounds
- Rock Creek Lake - Fort Scott
- Gunn Park
- Fort Scott Lake
- Best Camping Spot On Lake
- Prospect City Park
- Linn County Park
More reservoirs
Track Timber Hills Lake 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 Timber Hills Lake
Where does the data for Timber Hills Lake 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 Timber Hills Lake.