Council Grove Dam
Council Grove Dam is an earth dam located in Morris County, Kansas, built in 1964. It carries a High hazard potential classification.
About Council Grove Dam
The primary purpose of Council Grove Dam is flood risk reduction. The dam is designed to control downstream flooding by temporarily storing excess water during storms and releasing it at a controlled rate. The dam is owned by Usace - Tulsa District (federal). It impounds the Grand Neosho River near Council Grove.
The dam stands 105 feet tall and stretches 6,500 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 3,259 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 346,655 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 246 square miles. Completed in 1964, the structure is well into its service life at over 50 years old.
This dam carries a high hazard potential classification, which means that a failure or uncontrolled release of water would likely cause loss of human life. This classification reflects the consequences of failure, not the likelihood — it indicates that people live or work in the area downstream. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 05/24/2022.
At 105 feet, this dam is taller than 98% of all dams in the United States.
Living Downstream
If you live or work downstream of this dam, consider taking these steps: learn your local evacuation routes, check whether your county emergency management office has a dam failure inundation map, and sign up for local emergency alerts. The Kansas dam safety program can provide more specific information about emergency planning for this structure.
Search for dams near your address to see all dams in your area with hazard classifications and safety data.
Location
| State | Kansas |
| County | Morris |
| Nearest City | Council Grove |
| River/Stream | Grand Neosho River |
| Coordinates | 38.68056, -96.50265 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 105 ft |
| Dam Height | 105 ft |
| Dam Length | 6,500 ft |
| Year Completed | 1964 (62 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 346,655 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 346,655 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 48,665 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 3,259 acres |
| Drainage Area | 246 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 49,400 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | USACE - Tulsa District |
| Owner Type | Federal |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Not Available |
| Last Inspection | 05/24/2022 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | KS00001 |
| Federal ID | KS00001 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |