Wilson Creek 8-B dam
Wilson Creek 8-B
Wilson Creek 8-B is a vital earth dam located in Otoe, Nebraska, designed by the USDA NRCS to serve the primary purpose of flood risk reduction along the TR-N FK LITTLE NEMAHA RIVER. Completed in 1968, this dam stands at a height of 36 feet and stretches 890 feet in length, offering a storage capacity of 556 acre-feet to help mitigate potential flooding in the area. With a significant hazard potential and a fair condition assessment as of May 2019, Wilson Creek 8-B plays a crucial role in safeguarding the surrounding community from the impacts of extreme weather events.
Managed by the local government and regulated by the NE DNR, Wilson Creek 8-B is subject to state permitting, inspection, and enforcement to ensure its structural integrity and operational effectiveness. Situated within the Kansas City District, this earth dam is constructed with stone core types on a soil foundation and has a hydraulic height of 29 feet. Its normal storage capacity is 101 acre-feet, with a drainage area of 1.5 square miles and a maximum discharge capacity of 1831 cubic feet per second, helping to control water flow and minimize flood risks in the region.
As water resource and climate enthusiasts continue to monitor and assess the resilience of infrastructure like Wilson Creek 8-B, its role in flood risk reduction and water management remains of utmost importance. With a focus on safety and preparedness, ongoing inspections and maintenance efforts are essential to ensure the continued effectiveness of this critical earth dam in protecting the community and surrounding areas from the impacts of natural disasters and extreme weather events.
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 Wilson Creek 8-B -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Missouri River At Nebraska City | 37,100 cfs | → |
| Weeping Water Creek At Union | 74 cfs | → |
| Little Nemaha River At Auburn | 10,400 cfs | → |
| Nishnabotna River Above Hamburg | 4,080 cfs | → |
| Platte R At Louisville Ne | 5,800 cfs | → |
| Salt Creek At Greenwood | 938 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Wilson Creek 8-B.
Track Wilson Creek 8-B 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 Wilson Creek 8-B
Where does the data for Wilson Creek 8-B 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 Wilson Creek 8-B.