Elm Creek Lake
Elm Creek Lake is an earth dam located in Bourbon County, Kansas, built in 1935. It carries a Low hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
About Elm Creek Lake
The primary purpose of Elm Creek Lake is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Bourbon County (local government). It impounds the Elm Creek near Fort Scott.
The dam stands 44 feet tall and stretches 1,700 feet across, and has a maximum storage capacity of 1,442 acre-feet. Completed in 1935, the structure is well-established, with more than 75 years of service.
This dam has a low hazard potential classification, meaning that failure would cause minimal damage, limited primarily to the dam owner's property, with no expected loss of life. Its condition is rated poor, meaning the dam has recognized safety deficiencies that require remediation to address risks. The most recent inspection on record was 05/20/2011. That was over 14 years ago.
At 44 feet, this dam is taller than 90% of dams nationwide.
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Location
| State | Kansas |
| County | Bourbon |
| Nearest City | Fort Scott |
| River/Stream | Elm Creek |
| Coordinates | 37.76146, -94.85208 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 44 ft |
| Dam Height | 38 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,700 ft |
| Year Completed | 1935 (91 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 1,442 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 1,442 acre-ft |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | BOURBON COUNTY |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | Low |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 05/20/2011 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Not Required |
Identifiers
| NID ID | KS02538 |
| Federal ID | KS02538 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |