Zwiener Dam dam
Zwiener Dam
Zwiener Dam, located in Buffalo County, Nebraska, along the South Loup River, was completed in 1961 and stands at a height of 28.3 feet. This private dam primarily serves the purpose of flood risk reduction, with a storage capacity of 332.8 acre-feet and a drainage area of 6.19 square miles. Despite its critical function, the dam's condition assessment was reported as poor during its last inspection in June 2019, raising concerns about its structural integrity and maintenance.
Managed by the USDA NRCS, Zwiener Dam is regulated by the Nebraska DNR and undergoes regular state inspections, permitting, and enforcement to ensure compliance with safety standards. With a length of 230 feet and a surface area of 5.3 acres, this earth dam plays a vital role in mitigating flood risks in the region. However, its outdated infrastructure and poor condition highlight the need for increased maintenance and potential upgrades to safeguard against potential hazards and ensure long-term effectiveness in flood control efforts.
As water resource and climate enthusiasts, it is essential to monitor and advocate for the proper maintenance and rehabilitation of dams like Zwiener to enhance their resilience to changing environmental conditions. By supporting ongoing inspection and maintenance efforts, as well as advocating for necessary investments in dam safety, we can contribute to the sustainable management of water resources and the protection of communities from the impacts of extreme weather events in the future.
Dam data reference
Condition Assessment
- Satisfactory
- No existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. Acceptable performance is expected under all loading conditions (static, hydrologic, seismic) in accordance with the minimum applicable state or federal regulatory criteria or tolerable risk guidelines.
- Fair
- No existing dam safety deficiencies are recognized for normal operating conditions. Rare or extreme hydrologic and/or seismic events may result in a dam safety deficiency. Risk may be in the range to take further action.
- Poor
- A dam safety deficiency is recognized for normal operating conditions which may realistically occur. Remedial action is necessary. POOR may also be used when uncertainties exist as to critical analysis parameters which identify a potential dam safety deficiency.
- Unsatisfactory
- A dam safety deficiency is recognized that requires immediate or emergency remedial action for problem resolution.
- Not Rated
- The dam has not been inspected, is not under state or federal jurisdiction, or has been inspected but, for whatever reason, has not been rated.
Hazard Potential Classification
- High
- Dams assigned the high hazard potential classification are those where failure or mis-operation will probably cause loss of human life.
- Significant
- Dams assigned the significant hazard potential classification are those dams where failure or mis-operation results in no probable loss of human life but can cause economic loss, environmental damage, disruption of lifeline facilities, or impact other concerns. Significant hazard potential classification dams are often located in predominantly rural or agricultural areas but could be in areas with population and significant infrastructure.
- Low
- Dams assigned the low hazard potential classification are those where failure or mis-operation results in no probable loss of human life and low economic and/or environmental losses. Losses are principally limited to the owner's property.
- Undetermined
- Dams for which a downstream hazard potential has not been designated or is not provided.
Plan around the weather
Same NOAA / yr.no feed Snoflo's iOS app uses. Watch the precipitation column on the meteogram -- rain on the basin upstream typically lifts inflow 24-72 hours later.
Next 5 days, hour by hour
Temperature line with weather symbols on top, snow + rain accumulation as columns, humidity as a dotted line.
5-day forecast table
Every 3 hours, broken out across temperature, snow, rain, humidity, and wind. Each cell is colour-coded relative to the column min/max.
| Time | Condition | Temp (°F) | Snow (in) | Rain (in) | Humidity (%) | Wind (mps) | Wind dir |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loading detailed forecast… | |||||||
15-day temperature & precipitation
Daily temperatures, snow, and rain projected over the next two weeks.
Nearby streamflow gauges
USGS streamgauges around Zwiener Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Elm Creek Nr Elm Creek | 10 cfs | → |
| Platte River Near Kearney | 21 cfs | → |
| Platte R Mid Ch | 79 cfs | → |
| Buffalo Creek Nr Overton Nebr | 27 cfs | → |
| South Loup R At St. Michael | 154 cfs | → |
| Spring Creek Nr Overton | 7 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Zwiener Dam.
Track Zwiener Dam in the Snoflo app
Save this dam as a favorite and get the local NOAA / yr.no forecast plus regional flow context wherever you are.
About Zwiener Dam
Where does the data for Zwiener Dam come from?
Structural and regulatory data come from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' National Inventory of Dams (NID). Weather forecast comes from NOAA / yr.no -- the same feed Snoflo's iOS app uses.
How often is the report updated?
NID structural data refreshes annually as the Corps publishes updated assessments. The weather forecast refreshes throughout the day.
What does the Hazard hazard rating mean?
The Corps of Engineers' hazard potential classification grades probable consequences if the dam fails: High = probable loss of human life; Significant = no probable loss of human life but possible economic loss / environmental damage; Low = no probable loss of human life, only minor economic / environmental losses. See the Dam Data Reference card above for the full definitions.
What's "% of normal"?
The current storage value compared to the historical average storage on this calendar day. 100% = right on average; values above 100% mean above-normal storage (wet year); values below mean below-normal (dry year or drought).
Can I get alerts when storage crosses a threshold?
Yes -- alerts are managed in the Snoflo iOS app. Favorite this dam, set a threshold, and you'll get a push the moment conditions cross.
Other water bodies near here
Snoflo-tracked reservoirs and dams within driving distance of Zwiener Dam.