Frd No 20 is an earth dam located in Elk County, Kansas, built in 2006. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 47 ft47 ft tall and 2,503 ft long, taller than 91% 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
Frd No 20 is a dam in Elk, Kansas. The dam is owned by Elk River Wjd No 47 (local government). It impounds the Lower Elk River.
The dam stands 47 feet tall and stretches 2,503 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 16 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 848 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 1 square miles. Completed in 2006, the structure is relatively new.
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 fair — the dam has minor deficiencies that are being addressed or do not pose an immediate safety threat. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 02/20/2024.
At 47 feet, this dam is taller than 91% 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 | Elk |
| River/Stream | Lower Elk River |
| Coordinates | 37.36127, -96.35748 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 47 ft |
| Dam Height | 42 ft |
| Dam Length | 2,503 ft |
| Year Completed | 2006 (20 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 848 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 848 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 115 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 16 acres |
| Drainage Area | 1 sq mi |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Owner | Elk River Wjd No 47 |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 02/20/2024 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | KS09290 |
| Federal ID | KS09290 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |