Frd No 20 dam
Frd No 20
Frd No 20, also known as Little Walnut Hickory WS Dam 20, is a local government-owned structure in Leon, Kansas, designed by USDA NRCS with a primary purpose of flood risk reduction. Completed in 1965, this earth dam stands at a height of 25 feet and has a length of 1800 feet, providing a normal storage capacity of 115.78 acre-feet and serving a drainage area of 4.37 square miles. The dam has a low hazard potential and is currently not rated for condition assessment.
Located on the South Branch of the Little Walnut River, Frd No 20 is regulated by the Kansas Department of Agriculture and falls under the jurisdiction of the state, with permitting, inspection, and enforcement processes in place. The dam features an uncontrolled spillway with a width of 70 feet and has no associated locks or outlet gates. While the risk assessment for the structure is moderate, there are currently no risk management measures or emergency action plans in place, highlighting the need for continued monitoring and preparedness in the face of potential hazards.
Overall, Frd No 20 serves as a critical infrastructure for flood risk reduction in Butler County, Kansas, offering protection to the surrounding areas and contributing to water resource management in the region. With its historical significance and ongoing regulatory oversight, this earth dam stands as a testament to the importance of maintaining and assessing our water infrastructure for the resilience of communities and the environment in the face of changing climate conditions.
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 Frd No 20 -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Otter C At Climax | 25 cfs | → |
| Whitewater R At Towanda | 109 cfs | → |
| Elk R At Elk Falls | 41 cfs | → |
| Verdigris R Nr Virgil | 477 cfs | → |
| Cedar C Nr Cedar Point | 32 cfs | → |
| Walnut R At Winfield | 168 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Frd No 20.
Boat launches
Campgrounds
- El Dorado State Park
- Walnut River Rv Park
- Rock Ridge Cove North - Fall River Lake
- Fall River State Park
- Santa Fe Lake - Augusta
- White Hall Bay - Fall River Lake
Track Frd No 20 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 Frd No 20
Where does the data for Frd No 20 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 Low 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 Frd No 20.