Irrigation Dam
Irrigation Dam is an earth dam located in Riley County, Kansas, built in 1999. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Irrigation Dam
The primary purpose of Irrigation Dam is irrigation. The dam stores and diverts water for agricultural irrigation, supporting farming operations in the surrounding area. The dam is owned by Colbert Hills (state). It impounds the Little Kitten Creek-tr.
The dam stands 24 feet tall and stretches 470 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 3 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 72 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 0 square miles. Completed in 1999, the structure is 27 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 satisfactory, indicating no existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 10/27/2011. That was 14 years ago — unusually long for a high-hazard dam, which typically requires more frequent inspections.
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 | Riley |
| River/Stream | Little Kitten Creek-tr |
| Coordinates | 39.21542, -96.63954 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 24 ft |
| Dam Height | 24 ft |
| Dam Length | 470 ft |
| Year Completed | 1999 (27 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 72 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 72 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 35 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 3 acres |
| Drainage Area | 0 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 1,272 cfs |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Irrigation |
| Owner | COLBERT HILLS |
| Owner Type | State |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 10/27/2011 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | KS07860 |
| Federal ID | KS07860 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |