Santa Fe Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Butler County, Kansas, built in 1927. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 38 ft38 ft tall and 1,100 ft long, taller than 84% of U.S. dams with a recorded height. Height is drawn to scale against a two-story house, about 25 ft; the profile is a generic embankment section and the water level is illustrative.
About Santa Fe Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Santa Fe Lake Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Augusta, City of (local government). It impounds the Dry Creek near Augusta.
The dam stands 38 feet tall and stretches 1,100 feet across, has a maximum storage capacity of 8,650 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 37 square miles. Completed in 1927, the structure is well-established, with more than 75 years of service.
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 poor, meaning the dam has recognized safety deficiencies that require remediation to address risks. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 03/10/2021.
At 38 feet, this dam is taller than 84% 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 | Butler |
| Nearest City | Augusta |
| River/Stream | Dry Creek |
| Coordinates | 37.70408, -97.04720 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 38 ft |
| Dam Height | 38 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,100 ft |
| Year Completed | 1927 (99 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 8,650 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 8,650 acre-ft |
| Drainage Area | 37 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 24,150 cfs |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Augusta, City of |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 03/10/2021 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | KS00310 |
| Federal ID | KS00310 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |