Cott Dam dam
Cott Dam
Cott Dam, located in Clay Center, Kansas, is a privately owned structure regulated by the Kansas Department of Agriculture. The dam, designed by SCS, serves the primary purpose of irrigation and is situated along the Republican River. With a height of 38.8 feet and a storage capacity of 85 acre-feet, Cott Dam provides essential water resources for agricultural activities in the area.
This earth dam, with buttress core types, has a normal storage capacity of 51.7 acre-feet and a surface area of 4.4 acres. Although the hazard potential is rated as low, the dam has not been inspected since March 1995. Despite its age, Cott Dam continues to play a vital role in water resource management and irrigation in the region. As an enthusiast of water resources and climate, Cott Dam presents an interesting case study in the maintenance and regulation of essential infrastructure for agricultural sustainability.
As a water resource enthusiast, exploring the history and functionality of Cott Dam provides valuable insights into the management of irrigation systems in Kansas. The dam's location, design, and storage capacity all contribute to its significance in supporting agricultural activities along the Republican River. However, the lack of recent inspections raises questions about the ongoing maintenance and safety of this crucial water resource infrastructure. In-depth research into the operation and regulation of Cott Dam could offer valuable lessons for sustainable water management practices 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 Cott Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Republican R At Clay Center | 112 cfs | → |
| Fancy C At Winkler | 8 cfs | → |
| Chapman C Nr Chapman | 66 cfs | → |
| Republican R At Concordia | 48 cfs | → |
| Mill C At Washington | 110 cfs | → |
| Republican R Bl Milford Dam | 92 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Cott Dam.
Boat launches
- Gardiner Road Riley County
- Riley County
- Fancy Creek Mountain Bike Trail - Outer Loop Riley County
- Geary County
- Baldwin Creek Road Riley County
- Mound Ridge Drive Riley County
Campgrounds
- Huntress City Park
- Berner Memorial Campground
- Clay County Park
- Timber Creek - Milford Lake
- School Creek - Milford Lake
- Farnum Creek - Milford Lake
Track Cott 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 Cott Dam
Where does the data for Cott 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 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 Cott Dam.