Idle Hour Lake

HACKBERRY CREEK-TR· Labette, Kansas· Built 1925· 14 ft tall
Low Hazard Recreation Local Government

Key Takeaway

Idle Hour Lake is classified as low hazard in Kansas. It was completed in 1925 and is 101 years old. Its primary use is recreation.

Physical Details

Dam Height 14 ft (taller than 3.7% in KS)
Dam Length600 ft
Max Storage120 acre-ft
Normal Storage70 acre-ft
Year Completed1925 (101 years old)
NID IDKS02492

Safety Information

Low Hazard

No probable loss of human life and low economic/environmental losses expected.

Hazard potential describes downstream consequences of failure, not the dam's current condition. What does this mean?

Emergency Action Plan: No
State Regulated: No
Regulatory Agency: KS Dept. of Agriculture

Ownership

ALTAMONT, CITY OF

Local Government

Nearby Dams

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the hazard classification of Idle Hour Lake?

Idle Hour Lake is classified as Low Hazard. No probable loss of human life and low economic/environmental losses expected. This classification refers to the potential downstream consequences of a failure, not the dam's current structural condition.

Who owns and operates Idle Hour Lake?

Idle Hour Lake is owned by ALTAMONT, CITY OF (Local Government). The owner is responsible for maintenance, inspections, and compliance with dam safety regulations.

When was Idle Hour Lake built?

Idle Hour Lake was completed in 1925, making it 101 years old. Many U.S. dams were built between the 1930s and 1970s during a period of major infrastructure investment.

What is the primary purpose of Idle Hour Lake?

Idle Hour Lake serves the following purposes: Recreation. Many dams in the U.S. are multi-purpose, supporting flood control, water supply, recreation, and other uses.

How tall is Idle Hour Lake?

Idle Hour Lake has a dam height of 14 ft. Dam height is measured from the natural streambed at the downstream toe to the top of the dam, and may differ from the visible height.

Data from the National Inventory of Dams (NID) maintained by the US Army Corps of Engineers. Dam conditions may have changed since the last update. This site is not affiliated with USACE. Do not use for emergency planning — contact your local dam safety program.