Dodd Dam dam
Dodd Dam
Dodd Dam, located in Crawford, Nebraska, is a significant earth dam designed by USDA NRCS in 1962 for flood risk reduction along the White Clay Creek. Standing at a height of 42 feet, the dam has a normal storage capacity of 87 acre-feet and a maximum storage of 448.8 acre-feet, serving a drainage area of 11 square miles. However, despite its important role in managing flood risks in the region, Dodd Dam has been assessed as being in poor condition, with a significant hazard potential, highlighting the need for regular inspections and maintenance to ensure its structural integrity.
Managed by the Nebraska Department of Natural Resources, Dodd Dam is subject to state regulation and enforcement, with permitting and inspection processes in place to monitor its safety and functionality. The dam's poor condition assessment in 2020 raises concerns about its ability to effectively mitigate flood risks in the area, highlighting the importance of proactive risk management measures to address potential hazards. With a history of modifications and ongoing regulatory oversight, Dodd Dam remains a critical infrastructure for flood control in Dawes County, Nebraska.
As a key component of the flood risk reduction strategy in the region, Dodd Dam plays a vital role in protecting surrounding communities from the impacts of high water events. With its location in a significant hazard potential area and a history of poor condition assessment, it is essential for state regulators and dam owners to prioritize maintenance and risk management measures to ensure the continued effectiveness and safety of this important water resource infrastructure. As climate change brings more frequent and intense precipitation events, the proper maintenance and operation of dams like Dodd Dam are critical for safeguarding lives and properties against the increasing threat of flooding.
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 Dodd Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| White R Nr Ne-Sd State Line | 3 cfs | → |
| Horsehead Cr At Oelrichs Sd | · | → |
| Hat Cr Near Edgemont Sd | 0 cfs | → |
| Cheyenne R Below Angostura Dam Sd | 1 cfs | → |
| White R Near Oglala Sd | 101 cfs | → |
| Cheyenne R At Edgemont Sd | 3 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Dodd Dam.
Track Dodd 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 Dodd Dam
Where does the data for Dodd 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 Significant 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 Dodd Dam.