Frd No 20 is an earth dam located in Atchison County, Kansas, built in 1965. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 53 ft53 ft tall and 650 ft long, taller than 93% of U.S. dams with a recorded height. Height is drawn to scale against a ten-story building, about 100 ft; the profile is a generic embankment section and the water level is illustrative.
About Frd No 20
The primary purpose of Frd No 20 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 Atchison, City of (local government). It impounds the White Clay Creek-tr near Atchison.
The dam stands 53 feet tall and stretches 650 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 3 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 138 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 0 square miles. Completed in 1965, 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 satisfactory, indicating no existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 04/21/2023.
At 53 feet, this dam is taller than 93% 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 | Atchison |
| Nearest City | Atchison |
| River/Stream | White Clay Creek-tr |
| Coordinates | 39.54640, -95.16394 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 53 ft |
| Dam Height | 45 ft |
| Dam Length | 650 ft |
| Year Completed | 1965 (61 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 138 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 138 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 42 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 3 acres |
| Drainage Area | 0 sq mi |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | Atchison, City of |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 04/21/2023 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | KS02446 |
| Federal ID | KS02446 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |