Frd No 17

Frd No 17 is an earth dam located in Atchison County, Kansas, built in 1965. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.

About Frd No 17

The primary purpose of Frd No 17 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 Atchison, City Of (local government). It impounds the White Clay Creek-tr near Atchison.

The dam stands 54 feet tall and stretches 700 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 3 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 130 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 0 square miles. Completed in 1965, 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. Its condition is rated fair — the dam has minor deficiencies that are being addressed or do not pose an immediate safety threat. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 04/21/2023.

At 54 feet, this dam is taller than 94% of dams nationwide.

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.

High HazardFair ConditionEmergency Action Plan: Yes

Location

StateKansas
CountyAtchison
Nearest CityAtchison
River/StreamWhite Clay Creek-tr
Coordinates39.54070, -95.17960

Physical Characteristics

Dam TypeEarth
NID Height54 ft
Dam Height43 ft
Dam Length700 ft
Year Completed1965 (61 years old)

Storage & Hydraulics

NID Storage130 acre-ft
Max Storage130 acre-ft
Normal Storage31 acre-ft
Surface Area3 acres
Drainage Area0 sq mi
Max Discharge810 cfs

Ownership & Safety

PurposeFlood Risk Reduction
OwnerATCHISON, CITY OF
Owner TypeLocal Government
Hazard ClassificationHigh
Condition AssessmentFair
Last Inspection04/21/2023
Emergency Action PlanYes

Identifiers

NID IDKS02443
Federal IDKS02443
More InfoState Dam Safety Program

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