Frd No 38
Frd No 38 is an earth dam located in Ness County, Kansas, built in 1985. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
About Frd No 38
The primary purpose of Frd No 38 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 Wet Walnut Creek Wjd No 58 (local government). It impounds the Bazine Dry Creek-tr near Bazine.
The dam stands 37 feet tall and stretches 2,297 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 53 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 4,081 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 18 square miles. Completed in 1985, the structure is 41 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 04/19/2023.
At 37 feet, this dam is taller than 84% 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 | Ness |
| Nearest City | Bazine |
| River/Stream | Bazine Dry Creek-tr |
| Coordinates | 38.57326, -99.82607 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 37 ft |
| Dam Height | 37 ft |
| Dam Length | 2,297 ft |
| Year Completed | 1985 (41 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 4,081 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 4,081 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 286 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 53 acres |
| Drainage Area | 18 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 10,177 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | WET WALNUT CREEK WJD NO 58 |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 04/19/2023 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | KS05418 |
| Federal ID | KS05418 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |