Melvern Dam
Melvern Dam is an earth dam located in Osage County, Kansas, built in 1972. It carries a High hazard potential classification.
About Melvern Dam
The primary purpose of Melvern 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 - Kansas City District (federal). It impounds the Marais Des Cygnes near Melvern.
The dam stands 123 feet tall and stretches 9,750 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 6,930 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 363,000 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 349 square miles. Completed in 1972, 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 11/07/2024.
At 123 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 | Osage |
| Nearest City | Melvern |
| River/Stream | Marais Des Cygnes |
| Coordinates | 38.51441, -95.71300 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 123 ft |
| Dam Length | 9,750 ft |
| Year Completed | 1972 (54 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 363,000 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 363,000 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 154,000 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 6,930 acres |
| Drainage Area | 349 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 35,500 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | USACE - Kansas City District |
| Owner Type | Federal |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Not Available |
| Last Inspection | 11/07/2024 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | KS00007 |
| Federal ID | KS00007 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |