El Dorado Dam
El Dorado Dam is an earth dam located in Butler County, Kansas, built in 1981. It carries a High hazard potential classification.
About El Dorado Dam
The primary purpose of El Dorado 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 - Tulsa District (federal). It impounds the Walnut River near El Dorado.
The dam stands 99 feet tall and stretches 20,930 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 8,400 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 246,882 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 234 square miles. Completed in 1981, the structure is 45 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 08/18/2025.
At 99 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 | Butler |
| Nearest City | El Dorado |
| River/Stream | Walnut River |
| Coordinates | 37.84264, -96.81846 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 99 ft |
| Dam Height | 99 ft |
| Dam Length | 20,930 ft |
| Year Completed | 1981 (45 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 246,882 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 246,882 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 161,928 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 8,400 acres |
| Drainage Area | 234 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 120,800 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | USACE - Tulsa District |
| Owner Type | Federal |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Not Available |
| Last Inspection | 08/18/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | KS00027 |
| Federal ID | KS00027 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |