Critzer Dam dam
Critzer Dam
Critzer Dam, located in Critzer, Kansas, is a local government-owned structure that serves multiple purposes including flood risk reduction, recreation, and water supply. Completed in 2006, this earth-type dam stands at a height of 72 feet and spans 1696 feet along the North Fork Little Sugar Creek. With a storage capacity of 9464 acre-feet and a surface area of 212 acres, Critzer Dam plays a critical role in managing water resources in Linn County.
Managed by the Kansas Department of Agriculture, Critzer Dam is regulated, inspected, and enforced to ensure its safety and functionality. The dam's hazard potential is classified as high, but its condition assessment is satisfactory. Despite its primary purpose of flood risk reduction, Critzer Dam also offers recreational opportunities and contributes to the local water supply. The dam's strategic location and design make it a vital component of water resource management in the region.
Critzer Dam's design by Shetlar Griffith & Shetlar Inc. incorporates buttress core types and an unlisted/unknown foundation. With a maximum discharge capacity of 32700 cubic feet per second and a spillway width of 600 feet, the dam is equipped to handle potential flood events effectively. The last inspection in April 2020 revealed the dam's satisfactory condition, indicating that it continues to serve its purpose of safeguarding the community against flooding while providing additional benefits to residents and visitors alike.
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 Critzer Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| L Osage R At Fulton | 6,470 cfs | → |
| Marais Des Cygnes R Nr Ks-Mo St Line | 7,660 cfs | → |
| Marais Des Cygnes R At La Cygne | 5,340 cfs | → |
| Pottawatomie C Nr Scipio | 15 cfs | → |
| Marmaton R Nr Uniontown | 762 cfs | → |
| Pottawatomie C At Lane | 3,580 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Critzer Dam.
Track Critzer 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 Critzer Dam
Where does the data for Critzer 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 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 Critzer Dam.