Lake Wabaunsee Dam
Lake Wabaunsee Dam is an earth dam located in Wabaunsee County, Kansas, built in 1996. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Lake Wabaunsee Dam
The primary purpose of Lake Wabaunsee Dam 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 Eskridge, City Of (local government). It impounds the East Branch Mill Creek-tr near Hessdale.
The dam stands 66 feet tall and stretches 1,400 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 228 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 6,285 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 10 square miles. Completed in 1996, the structure is 30 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 04/27/2021.
At 66 feet, this dam is taller than 96% 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 | Wabaunsee |
| Nearest City | Hessdale |
| River/Stream | East Branch Mill Creek-tr |
| Coordinates | 38.86684, -96.19818 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 66 ft |
| Dam Height | 66 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,400 ft |
| Year Completed | 1996 (30 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 6,285 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 6,285 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 3,499 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 228 acres |
| Drainage Area | 10 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 23,400 cfs |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Water Supply |
| Owner | ESKRIDGE, CITY OF |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 04/27/2021 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | KS02531 |
| Federal ID | KS02531 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |