Aowa Creek 13-5 dam
Aowa Creek 13-5
Aowa Creek 13-5 is a low hazard potential earth dam located in Dixon, Nebraska, designed by the USDA NRCS and completed in 1981. The dam's primary purpose is flood risk reduction, with a normal storage capacity of 78 acre-feet and a maximum storage capacity of 220 acre-feet. The dam stands at a height of 32 feet and spans 668 feet in length, with a drainage area of 0.9 square miles.
Managed by the local government and regulated by the Nebraska Department of Natural Resources, Aowa Creek 13-5 has a satisfactory condition assessment as of October 2019, with regular inspections conducted every five years. The dam's structure consists of stone core types on a soil foundation, with a hydraulic height of 31 feet and a maximum discharge capacity of 699 cubic feet per second. Despite its low hazard potential, the dam plays a crucial role in mitigating flood risks and protecting the surrounding area from potential water resource challenges.
As a vital water resource infrastructure in the region, Aowa Creek 13-5 is an integral part of the flood risk reduction strategy for the TR-Silver Creek watershed. With its strategic location and effective design, the dam serves as a key component in ensuring the safety and resilience of the local community in PONCA. Its role in water resource management and climate adaptation underscores the importance of sustainable infrastructure development in safeguarding against the impacts of extreme weather events and ensuring the long-term sustainability of water resources in Nebraska.
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 Aowa Creek 13-5 -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Logan Creek At Wakefield | 159 cfs | → |
| Vermillion River Nr Vermillion Sd | 83 cfs | → |
| Missouri River At Sioux City | 28,300 cfs | → |
| Omaha Cr At Homer | 63 cfs | → |
| Big Sioux River At Akron | 1,410 cfs | → |
| Perry Creek Near Milnerville | 25 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Aowa Creek 13-5.
Boat launches
Track Aowa Creek 13-5 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 Aowa Creek 13-5
Where does the data for Aowa Creek 13-5 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 Aowa Creek 13-5.