Marion County Lake Dam is a dam located in Marion County, Kansas, built in 1937. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 62 ft62 ft tall and 1,290 ft long, taller than 95% 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 Marion County Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Marion County Lake Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Marion County (local government). It impounds the Cottonwood River-tr near Florence.
The dam stands 62 feet tall and stretches 1,290 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 150 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 4,063 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 7 square miles. Completed in 1937, the structure is well-established, with more than 75 years of service.
This dam has a significant hazard potential classification, meaning that a failure could cause significant economic damage — flooding roads, bridges, or property downstream — but is not expected to result in loss of life. 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 08/11/2021.
At 62 feet, this dam is taller than 95% of all dams in the United States.
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Location
| State | Kansas |
| County | Marion |
| Nearest City | Florence |
| River/Stream | Cottonwood River-tr |
| Coordinates | 38.31462, -96.99067 |
Physical Characteristics
| NID Height | 62 ft |
| Dam Height | 55 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,290 ft |
| Year Completed | 1937 (89 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 4,063 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 4,063 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 2,418 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 150 acres |
| Drainage Area | 7 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 11,053 cfs |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Marion County |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 08/11/2021 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | KS02548 |
| Federal ID | KS02548 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |