Red Willow dam
Red Willow
Red Willow, located in Nebraska, is a federal-owned dam on the Red Willow Creek that serves multiple purposes including flood risk reduction, irrigation, and recreation. Built in 1961 by the Bureau of Reclamation, this earth-type dam stands at a height of 126 feet and has a storage capacity of 163,415 acre-feet. With a surface area of 4,060 acres and a drainage area of 708 square miles, Red Willow plays a crucial role in water resource management in the region.
The dam has a high hazard potential and is subject to state regulation and inspection by the Nebraska Department of Natural Resources. Despite being recently modified in 2013 for structural improvements, the condition assessment of Red Willow is not currently available. The emergency action plan for the dam is in place and meets guidelines, ensuring that necessary measures are in place for potential risks. With a moderate risk assessment rating of 3, Red Willow continues to play a vital role in managing water resources and mitigating flood risks in the area.
Red Willow's strategic location, impressive storage capacity, and multi-purpose functionality make it a key asset in water resource management and climate resilience efforts in Nebraska. As a federally-owned structure operated by the Bureau of Reclamation, its impact on the surrounding environment and communities is significant, highlighting the importance of ongoing monitoring, inspection, and risk management to ensure its continued effectiveness in safeguarding against floods and supporting irrigation and recreational activities in the region.
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 Red Willow -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Republican River At Mccook Nebr | 30 cfs | → |
| Red Willow Creek Near Red Willow | 3 cfs | → |
| Frenchman Creek At Culbertson | 22 cfs | → |
| Driftwood Creek Near Mc Cook | 0 cfs | → |
| Frenchman Creek At Palisade | 14 cfs | → |
| Beaver C At Cedar Bluffs | · | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Red Willow.
Boat launches
Campgrounds
- Kiwanis Point Campground
- Willow View Campground
- Red Willow Reservoir State Rec Area
- Buffalo Roam Campground
- Karrer Park
- Swanson Reservoir State Rec Area
Fishing spots
More reservoirs
Track Red Willow 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 Red Willow
Where does the data for Red Willow 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 High 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 Red Willow.