No. 17
No. 17 is an earth dam located in Harvey County, Kansas, built in 2006. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About No. 17
The primary purpose of No. 17 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 Whitewater River Wjd No 22 (local government). It impounds the Gypsum Creek.
The dam stands 40 feet tall and stretches 1,263 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 47 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 6,803 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 9 square miles. Completed in 2006, 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 04/13/2023.
At 40 feet, this dam is taller than 87% 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 | Harvey |
| River/Stream | Gypsum Creek |
| Coordinates | 37.96127, -97.19343 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 40 ft |
| Dam Height | 40 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,263 ft |
| Year Completed | 2006 (20 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 6,803 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 6,803 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 277 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 47 acres |
| Drainage Area | 9 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 18,919 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | WHITEWATER RIVER WJD NO 22 |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 04/13/2023 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | KS09267 |
| Federal ID | KS09267 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |