SKW is proud to have led the design and development of the Critzer Dam/PWWSD No. 13 water supply project.  This monumental project includes the design of the largest dam and reservoir to be built in eastern Kansas in 10 years, also establishing it as one of the largest projects undertaken by SKW.  PWWSD No. 13 was formed to offer water supply to a combination of east central Kansas and west central Missouri communities. 

SKW provided assistance to the District in securing USDA, Rural Development grant and loan funds to create a reservoir, water treatment plant and distribution system to serve the area.  A location for the dam and reservoir was selected on the north fork of the Little Sugar Creek between Mound City and Blue Mound in Linn County, KS. 

Upon completion, the SKW-designed Critzer Dam will be 1,692’ long, with a maximum height of 72’ and contain about 800,000 cubic yards of fill.  The reservoir has a surface area of 212 acres and will impound 4,270 acre-feet (or 1.39 billion gallons) of water with a maximum depth of 52’ at its normal pool.  The dam has a drainage area of 13.34 square miles above the dam with flood control for the area below.  The emergency spillway is cut into a rock hill north of the dam and is about 740’ wide and 1,200’ long. The embankment is constructed from zones of earth and rock fill with an internal filter-drain system.

Water from PWWSD No. 13 will serve more than 2,500 meters and directly benefit approximately 6,000 people.  SKW’s services also included aerial photography and digital imagery for design and engineering of dam and water distribution lines; quality control administration; 401 and 404 individual permit services and application and mitigation development plans and design of the dam, the distribution system and the water treatment plant.