15-27
15-27 is an earth dam located in Brown County, Kansas, built in 2003. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About 15-27
The primary purpose of 15-27 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 Nemaha-brown Wjd No 7 (local government). It impounds the Delaware River-tr near Horton.
The dam stands 25 feet tall and stretches 900 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 18 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 500 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 1 square miles. Completed in 2003, the structure is relatively new.
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 10/12/2022.
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 | Brown |
| Nearest City | Horton |
| River/Stream | Delaware River-tr |
| Coordinates | 39.66942, -95.71661 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 25 ft |
| Dam Height | 25 ft |
| Dam Length | 900 ft |
| Year Completed | 2003 (23 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 500 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 500 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 86 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 18 acres |
| Drainage Area | 1 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 2,787 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | NEMAHA-BROWN WJD NO 7 |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 10/12/2022 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | KS09033 |
| Federal ID | KS09033 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |