1867 Manhattan, Kansas earthquake
A potential earthquake in the area could lead to the dam breaking and releasing a massive amount of water, posing a danger to around 13,000 people and 5,900 homes. Since 2013, more than 500 earthquakes have occurred in the state, leading to the reawakening of old fault lines. The United States Army Corps of Engineers found that a earthquake between 5.7 and 6.6 could make the ground under the dam turn into quicksand, causing the dam to stretch out and the top to drop by up to three feet.