Hay Creek Wallace Dam dam
Hay Creek Wallace Dam
Hay Creek Wallace Dam, located in Sioux County, Nebraska, is a privately owned earth dam primarily used for irrigation purposes. Constructed in 1950 by the USDA NRCS, this dam stands at a height of 26 feet with a structural height of 30 feet, providing a storage capacity of 184 acre-feet. The dam is situated on Hay Creek, covering a drainage area of 10.6 square miles and serving as a crucial water resource for the surrounding agricultural lands.
Despite its importance for irrigation, Hay Creek Wallace Dam has been rated as having a poor condition assessment, with a low hazard potential. The dam has a history of state regulation, inspection, and enforcement by the Nebraska Department of Natural Resources, ensuring its safety and compliance with regulatory standards. The last inspection in 2019 highlighted the need for improvements to its condition and emergency action plan, emphasizing the importance of ongoing maintenance and risk management measures to safeguard the surrounding community and water resources.
As a key infrastructure in the region, Hay Creek Wallace Dam plays a vital role in water management and agricultural sustainability. With its proximity to the Ardmore SD area and the Omaha District, the dam's capacity for irrigation and flood control is essential for supporting the local economy and ecosystem. As water resource and climate enthusiasts, it is important to monitor the dam's maintenance and regulatory compliance to ensure its continued effectiveness in water management and environmental protection.
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 Hay Creek Wallace Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Cheyenne R At Edgemont Sd | 4 cfs | → |
| Hat Cr Near Edgemont Sd | 0 cfs | → |
| Cheyenne River Near Spencer | 2 cfs | → |
| Cheyenne R Below Angostura Dam Sd | 1 cfs | → |
| Fall R At Hot Springs Sd | 37 cfs | → |
| Horsehead Cr At Oelrichs Sd | · | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Hay Creek Wallace Dam.
Campgrounds
Paddle runs
Track Hay Creek Wallace 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 Hay Creek Wallace Dam
Where does the data for Hay Creek Wallace 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 Hay Creek Wallace Dam.