Pottawatomie State Lake No 1 dam
Pottawatomie State Lake No 1
Pottawatomie State Lake No 1, located in Pottawatomie, Kansas, is a picturesque Earth dam built in 1932 by the State Highway Commission. This dam, standing at a height of 43 feet and boasting a maximum storage capacity of 355 acre-feet, serves the primary purpose of recreation, providing a tranquil setting for fishing and wildlife observation in addition to water-based activities. The dam spans a length of 1400 feet and is regulated by the Kansas Department of Agriculture, ensuring its safe operation and maintenance.
The dam's location on Rock Creek-TR offers a serene backdrop for outdoor enthusiasts seeking a retreat in nature. With a drainage area of 1.25 square miles and a maximum discharge capacity of 3500 cubic feet per second, Pottawatomie State Lake No 1 is a vital water resource in the region. Despite its high hazard potential, the dam is deemed to be in fair condition, according to the latest inspection in May 2020. The dam's emergency action plan status and risk management measures are currently unspecified, indicating a potential area for improvement in ensuring the safety of the surrounding community.
Overall, Pottawatomie State Lake No 1 stands as a vital water infrastructure for both recreational and environmental purposes in Pottawatomie County, Kansas. With its unique design and historical significance, this dam continues to be a beacon for water resource and climate enthusiasts looking to explore and appreciate the intersection of human ingenuity and natural beauty in the heart of the Midwest.
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 Pottawatomie State Lake No 1 -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Vermillion C Nr Wamego | 132 cfs | → |
| Rock C Nr Louisville | 16 cfs | → |
| Black Vermillion R Nr Frankfort | 3,550 cfs | → |
| Big Blue R Nr Manhattan | 803 cfs | → |
| Kansas R At Wamego | 5,190 cfs | → |
| Fancy C At Winkler | 8 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Pottawatomie State Lake No 1.
Boat launches
- Park Road Pottawatomie County
- Spillway Marina Road Pottawatomie County
- Mound Ridge Drive Riley County
- Stockdale Park Road 4800, Manhattan
- Baldwin Creek Road Riley County
- Fancy Creek Mountain Bike Trail - Outer Loop Riley County
Campgrounds
- Oregon Trail Rv Park
- Stockdale - Tuttle Creek Reservoir
- Tuttle Creek State Park
- Tuttle Creek Cove - Tuttle Creek Lake
- Blue Rapids/Riverside City Park
- Centralia Lake
Fishing spots
Track Pottawatomie State Lake No 1 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 Pottawatomie State Lake No 1
Where does the data for Pottawatomie State Lake No 1 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 Pottawatomie State Lake No 1.