Glen Elder Dam
Glen Elder Dam is an earth dam located in Mitchell County, Kansas, built in 1969. It carries a High hazard potential classification.
About Glen Elder Dam
The primary purpose of Glen Elder 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 Bureau Of Reclamation (federal). It impounds the Soloman River near Glen Elder.
The dam stands 142 feet tall and stretches 15,275 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 13,500 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 1,107,489 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 5,076 square miles. Completed in 1969, 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 05/06/2021.
At 142 feet, this dam is taller than 99% 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 | Mitchell |
| Nearest City | Glen Elder |
| River/Stream | Soloman River |
| Coordinates | 39.49640, -98.31560 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 142 ft |
| Dam Height | 142 ft |
| Dam Length | 15,275 ft |
| Year Completed | 1969 (57 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 1,107,489 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 1,107,489 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 241,460 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 13,500 acres |
| Drainage Area | 5,076 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 263,000 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Controlled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | BUREAU OF RECLAMATION |
| Owner Type | Federal |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Not Available |
| Last Inspection | 05/06/2021 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | KS00021 |
| Federal ID | KS00021 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |