Multipurpose Site No 53 dam
Multipurpose Site No 53
Located in Alma, Kansas, Multipurpose Site No 53 serves as a crucial flood risk reduction and water supply infrastructure managed by the local government. Designed by Dale Steward, P.E., this Earth-type dam stands at a height of 63 feet and spans a length of 2500 feet, with a storage capacity of 2200 acre-feet. Situated along Mill Creek-TR, the dam plays a vital role in protecting the surrounding area from potential flooding events, with a significant hazard potential and a fair condition assessment.
Managed by the Kansas Department of Agriculture, this multipurpose site has state jurisdiction and regulatory oversight, ensuring its compliance with safety and operational standards. With a drainage area of 3.64 square miles and a normal storage capacity of 986.1 acre-feet, this dam contributes to flood mitigation efforts while also providing essential water supply services to the local community. Despite its moderate risk assessment, the dam is regularly inspected and has emergency preparedness measures in place to address any potential risks.
Multipurpose Site No 53 offers a strategic solution to flood risk reduction and water supply needs in Wabaunsee County, Kansas. With its uncontrolled spillway and significant storage capacity, this essential infrastructure plays a crucial role in safeguarding the surrounding area from potential flooding events. Managed by the local government and meeting state regulatory standards, this dam stands as a testament to effective water resource management and climate resilience efforts 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 Multipurpose Site No 53 -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Mill C Nr Paxico | 255 cfs | → |
| Kansas R At Wamego | 6,920 cfs | → |
| Kansas R Nr Belvue | 6,610 cfs | → |
| Kings C Nr Manhattan | 1 cfs | → |
| Rock C Nr Louisville | 16 cfs | → |
| Big Blue R Nr Manhattan | 4,790 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Multipurpose Site No 53.
Boat launches
- Lincoln Avenue St. George
- Pillsbury Drive Manhattan
- Linear Trail Pottawatomie County
- State Lake Road 7988, Pottawatomie County
- Cimarron Trail Ogden
- Riley County
Campgrounds
- St Marys Riverside Park
- Tuttle Creek State Park
- Tuttle Creek Cove - Tuttle Creek Lake
- Oregon Trail Rv Park
- Stockdale - Tuttle Creek Reservoir
Fishing spots
More reservoirs
Track Multipurpose Site No 53 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 Multipurpose Site No 53
Where does the data for Multipurpose Site No 53 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 Multipurpose Site No 53.