Otis Creek Dam (mpd No W-7)
Otis Creek Dam (mpd No W-7) is an earth dam located in Greenwood County, Kansas, built in 1971. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
About Otis Creek Dam (mpd No W-7)
The primary purpose of Otis Creek Dam (mpd No W-7) 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 Fall River Wjd No 21 (local government). It impounds the Otis Creek near Eureka.
The dam stands 94 feet tall and stretches 1,595 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 258 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 13,300 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 14 square miles. Completed in 1971, 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. Its condition is rated fair — the dam has minor deficiencies that are being addressed or do not pose an immediate safety threat. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 04/28/2021.
At 94 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 | Greenwood |
| Nearest City | Eureka |
| River/Stream | Otis Creek |
| Coordinates | 37.92777, -96.46438 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 94 ft |
| Dam Height | 86 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,595 ft |
| Year Completed | 1971 (55 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 13,300 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 13,300 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 5,850 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 258 acres |
| Drainage Area | 14 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 1,890 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | FALL RIVER WJD NO 21 |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 04/28/2021 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | KS02301 |
| Federal ID | KS02301 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |