Copley Dam dam
Copley Dam
Copley Dam, located in Riverton, Nebraska, is a privately owned and state-regulated structure designed by USDA NRCS for fire protection, stock, and small fish pond purposes. Completed in 1963, this earth dam stands at a height of 22 feet, with a hydraulic height of 20 feet and a structural height of 26 feet. It has a normal storage capacity of 15.8 acre-feet and a maximum storage capacity of 63.7 acre-feet, serving an area with a drainage size of 3.9 square miles.
Despite its low hazard potential, Copley Dam has been assessed as being in poor condition as of the last inspection in April 2017. The dam has a length of 166 feet and a surface area of 5.2 acres, with a maximum discharge capacity of 850 cubic feet per second. It is crucial to ensure regular inspections and maintenance to address the poor condition assessment and mitigate any risks associated with the dam. Water resource and climate enthusiasts should keep an eye on the developments surrounding Copley Dam to ensure the safety and sustainability of its operations for the community it serves.
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 Copley Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Prairie Dog C Nr Woodruff | · | → |
| Republican River At Guide Rock | 2 cfs | → |
| Republican River Near Orleans | 40 cfs | → |
| Nf Solomon R At Glade | 5 cfs | → |
| Sappa Creek Near Stamford | 3 cfs | → |
| Nf Solomon R At Portis | 17 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Copley Dam.
Boat launches
- Harlan - Cedar Point Ramp
- Harlan - Gremlin Cove
- Hunter Cove - Low Water Ramp
- Patterson Harbor
- Methodist Cove
- Harlan - Alma Boat Ramp
Campgrounds
- South Park Municipal Campground
- South Outlet - Harlan County Lake
- North Outlet - Harlan County Lake
- Gremlin Cove - Harlan County Lake
- Patterson Harbor Marina Campground
- Hunter Cove - Harlan County Lake
Fishing spots
More reservoirs
Track Copley 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 Copley Dam
Where does the data for Copley 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 Low 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 Copley Dam.