Back-up Water Supply
Back-up Water Supply is an earth dam located in Woodson County, Kansas, built in 1936. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
About Back-up Water Supply
The primary purpose of Back-up Water Supply 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 Yates Center, City Of (local government). It impounds the South Owl Creek near Petrolia.
The dam stands 41 feet tall and stretches 1,000 feet across, has a maximum storage capacity of 2,015 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 4 square miles. Completed in 1936, the structure is well-established, with more than 75 years of service.
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 11/02/2020.
At 41 feet, this dam is taller than 88% 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.
Location
| State | Kansas |
| County | Woodson |
| Nearest City | Petrolia |
| River/Stream | South Owl Creek |
| Coordinates | 37.86520, -95.74466 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 41 ft |
| Dam Height | 36 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,000 ft |
| Year Completed | 1936 (90 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 2,015 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 2,015 acre-ft |
| Drainage Area | 4 sq mi |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Water Supply |
| Owner | YATES CENTER, CITY OF |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 11/02/2020 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | KS02535 |
| Federal ID | KS02535 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |