Perry Dam
Perry Dam is an earth dam located in Jefferson County, Kansas, built in 1966. It carries a High hazard potential classification.
About Perry Dam
The primary purpose of Perry Dam 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 Usace - Kansas City District (federal). It impounds the Delaware River near Perry.
The dam stands 121 feet tall and stretches 1,740 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 12,200 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 770,000 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 1,117 square miles. Completed in 1966, the structure is well into its service life at over 50 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. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 06/22/2022.
At 121 feet, this dam is taller than 98% 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.
Search for dams near your address to see all dams in your area with hazard classifications and safety data.
Location
| State | Kansas |
| County | Jefferson |
| Nearest City | Perry |
| River/Stream | Delaware River |
| Coordinates | 39.11348, -95.42536 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 121 ft |
| Dam Height | 121 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,740 ft |
| Year Completed | 1966 (60 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 770,000 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 770,000 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 12,200 acres |
| Drainage Area | 1,117 sq mi |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | USACE - Kansas City District |
| Owner Type | Federal |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Not Available |
| Last Inspection | 06/22/2022 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | KS00009 |
| Federal ID | KS00009 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |