Rock Creek Dam dam
Rock Creek Dam
Rock Creek Dam, located in Bourbon County, Kansas, serves as a vital water supply source for the surrounding area. Built in 1920, this earth dam stands at 15 feet high and stretches 225 feet in length along the Rock Creek stream. Managed by the local government, the dam is regulated by the Kansas Department of Agriculture and undergoes regular inspections to ensure its structural integrity and safety.
With a primary purpose of water supply, Rock Creek Dam also provides recreational opportunities for the community. The dam has a storage capacity of 581 acre-feet and covers a surface area of 69 acres. Despite being classified as having a significant hazard potential, the dam is in fair condition and meets regulatory guidelines for emergency action plans. Overall, Rock Creek Dam serves as a crucial infrastructure for water management and recreational activities in the area.
Designed by BLACK & VEATCH, Rock Creek Dam stands as a testament to engineering excellence and environmental stewardship. Its location on Rock Creek, with a drainage area of 5.81 square miles, highlights the dam's importance in managing water resources for the region. Whether for water supply, recreation, or flood control, Rock Creek Dam plays a key role in sustaining the community's water needs and enhancing the quality of life for residents in Bourbon County, Kansas.
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 Rock Creek Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Marmaton R Nr Marmaton | 194 cfs | → |
| Marmaton R Nr Fort Scott | 20 cfs | → |
| Marmaton R Nr Uniontown | 3 cfs | → |
| L Osage R At Fulton | 30 cfs | → |
| Marmaton River Near Nevada | 38 cfs | → |
| East Drywood Creek At Prairie State Park | · | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Rock Creek Dam.
Boat launches
- Kansas Road Marmaton
- West Atlantic Street 634, Nevada
- South 1500 Road Vernon County
- Vernon County
- Southwest 50th Road Barton County
- I 49;Us 71 Bates County
Track Rock Creek Dam 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 Rock Creek Dam
Where does the data for Rock Creek Dam 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 Rock Creek Dam.