Mpd No. 4-10 (horsethief Reservoir)

About Mpd No. 4-10 (horsethief Reservoir)

The primary purpose of Mpd No. 4-10 (horsethief Reservoir) is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Pawnee Wjd No 81 (local government). It impounds the Buckner Creek near Jetmore.

The dam stands 88 feet tall and stretches 7,210 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 452 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 52,464 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 206 square miles. Completed in 2009, 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 10/26/2021.

At 88 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.

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