Merritt Lake
Merritt Lake is an earth dam located in Leavenworth County, Kansas, built in 1860. It carries a Low hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
About Merritt Lake
The primary purpose of Merritt Lake is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Fort Leavenworth (federal). It impounds the Trib Missouri River near Leavenworth.
The dam stands 25 feet tall and stretches 400 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 7 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 55 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 280 square miles. Completed in 1860, the structure is one of the older dams in the region, with over a century and a half of service.
This dam has a low hazard potential classification, meaning that failure would cause minimal damage, limited primarily to the dam owner's property, with no expected loss of life. 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 05/18/2021.
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Location
| State | Kansas |
| County | Leavenworth |
| Nearest City | Leavenworth |
| River/Stream | Trib Missouri River |
| Coordinates | 39.34723, -94.91979 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 25 ft |
| Dam Height | 20 ft |
| Dam Length | 400 ft |
| Year Completed | 1860 (166 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 55 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 55 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 19 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 7 acres |
| Drainage Area | 280 sq mi |
| Spillway Type | Controlled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Fort Leavenworth |
| Owner Type | Federal |
| Hazard Classification | Low |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 05/18/2021 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | KS04076 |
| Federal ID | KS04076 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |