Mission Lake
Mission Lake is an earth dam located in Brown County, Kansas, built in 1924. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
About Mission Lake
The primary purpose of Mission Lake is water supply. The dam stores water for municipal, industrial, or agricultural use, helping ensure a reliable supply for the surrounding area. The dam is owned by Horton, City Of (local government). It impounds the Mission Creek near Horton.
The dam stands 36 feet tall and stretches 1,010 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 154 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 2,450 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 8 square miles. Completed in 1924, the structure is over a century 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 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 04/30/2021.
At 36 feet, this dam is taller than 83% 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 | Brown |
| Nearest City | Horton |
| River/Stream | Mission Creek |
| Coordinates | 39.67127, -95.51501 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 36 ft |
| Dam Height | 36 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,010 ft |
| Year Completed | 1924 (102 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 2,450 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 2,450 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 1,070 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 154 acres |
| Drainage Area | 8 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 24,200 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Water Supply |
| Owner | HORTON, CITY OF |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 04/30/2021 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | KS02458 |
| Federal ID | KS02458 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |