Lake Elbo dam
Lake Elbo
Lake Elbo, located in St. George, Kansas, is a privately owned reservoir built in 1949 for recreational purposes. The dam, designed by MCCORD AND CO, stands at a height of 33 feet and has a storage capacity of 495 acre-feet. The reservoir is fed by Elbo Creek and covers a surface area of unspecified size. With a maximum discharge of 3000 cubic feet per second, Lake Elbo serves as both a scenic recreational spot and a vital water resource in Pottawatomie County.
Managed by the Kansas Department of Agriculture, Lake Elbo is subject to state regulation, inspection, and enforcement to ensure its safety and functionality. The dam, classified as a buttress type, has a spillway width of 95 feet and a high hazard potential rating. Despite being not rated for its condition, the dam undergoes inspections every three years to assess any potential risks and ensure proper maintenance. While the emergency action plan status and risk assessment measures are not specified, Lake Elbo remains a popular destination for water resource and climate enthusiasts in the region.
Overall, Lake Elbo serves as a significant water resource and recreational destination in Kansas. With its picturesque surroundings and high hazard potential, the dam requires regular maintenance and monitoring to ensure the safety of nearby residents and visitors. As a privately owned reservoir, it provides a valuable source of water storage and outdoor recreation opportunities, making it a key feature in the local landscape and a point of interest for water resource and climate enthusiasts alike.
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 Lake Elbo -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Big Blue R Nr Manhattan | 519 cfs | → |
| Rock C Nr Louisville | 16 cfs | → |
| Kansas R At Wamego | 1,300 cfs | → |
| Kings C Nr Manhattan | 0 cfs | → |
| Vermillion C Nr Wamego | 13 cfs | → |
| Kansas R Nr Belvue | 1,120 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Lake Elbo.
Boat launches
- State Lake Road 7988, Pottawatomie County
- Linear Trail Pottawatomie County
- Lincoln Avenue St. George
- Riley County
- Pillsbury Drive Manhattan
- Spillway Marina Road Pottawatomie County
Campgrounds
- Tuttle Creek State Park
- Tuttle Creek Cove - Tuttle Creek Lake
- Stockdale - Tuttle Creek Reservoir
- Oregon Trail Rv Park
- St Marys Riverside Park
- Farnum Creek - Milford Lake
Fishing spots
Track Lake Elbo 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 Lake Elbo
Where does the data for Lake Elbo 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 High 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 Lake Elbo.