Cooling Lake Dam - Wolf Creek Unit 1
Cooling Lake Dam - Wolf Creek Unit 1 is an earth dam located in Coffey County, Kansas, built in 1980. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
About Cooling Lake Dam - Wolf Creek Unit 1
Cooling Lake Dam - Wolf Creek Unit 1 is a dam in Coffey, Kansas. The dam is owned by Wolf Creek Nuclear Operating Corporation (private).
The dam stands 82 feet tall, creates a reservoir covering 5,090 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 192,693 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 27 square miles. Completed in 1980, the structure is 46 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 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 04/06/2023.
At 82 feet, this dam is taller than 97% 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 | Coffey |
| Nearest City | Burlington |
| Coordinates | 38.19307, -95.67646 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 82 ft |
| Dam Height | 82 ft |
| Year Completed | 1980 (46 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 192,693 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 192,693 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 111,280 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 5,090 acres |
| Drainage Area | 27 sq mi |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Other |
| Owner | WOLF CREEK NUCLEAR OPERATING CORPORATION |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 04/06/2023 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | KS09311 |
| Federal ID | KS09311 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |