Ft Scott Municipal Dam
Ft Scott Municipal Dam is an earth dam located in Bourbon County, Kansas, built in 1959. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
About Ft Scott Municipal Dam
The primary purpose of Ft Scott Municipal Dam is water supply. The dam stores water for municipal, industrial, or agricultural use, helping ensure a reliable supply for the surrounding area. The dam is owned by Fort Scott, City Of (local government). It impounds the Rock Creek near Fort Scott.
The dam stands 62 feet tall and stretches 1,420 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 349 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 11,010 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 11 square miles. Completed in 1959, 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 poor, meaning the dam has recognized safety deficiencies that require remediation to address risks. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 04/26/2023.
At 62 feet, this dam is taller than 95% 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 | Bourbon |
| Nearest City | Fort Scott |
| River/Stream | Rock Creek |
| Coordinates | 37.78945, -94.75632 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 62 ft |
| Dam Height | 62 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,420 ft |
| Year Completed | 1959 (67 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 11,010 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 11,010 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 6,691 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 349 acres |
| Drainage Area | 11 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 10,008 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Water Supply |
| Owner | FORT SCOTT, CITY OF |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 04/26/2023 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | KS02455 |
| Federal ID | KS02455 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |