Dam No 4

About Dam No 4

The primary purpose of Dam No 4 is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Linn Valley Lakes (private). It impounds the Middle Creek near La Cygne.

The dam stands 68 feet tall and stretches 1,420 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 106 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 4,159 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 2 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 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 04/26/2021.

At 68 feet, this dam is taller than 96% 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.

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