Farnam Dam dam
Farnam Dam
Farnam Dam, located in Dawson County, Nebraska, is a privately owned structure with a primary purpose of flood risk reduction. Completed in 1937, this earth dam stands at a height of 15.3 feet and has a storage capacity of 252.8 acre-feet. The dam plays a crucial role in protecting the surrounding area from potential flooding events, with a significant hazard potential and a poor condition assessment as of April 2020.
Managed by the Nebraska Department of Natural Resources, Farnam Dam is situated on TR-Plum Creek and falls under the jurisdiction of the state regulatory agency. Despite its age, the dam continues to serve its purpose effectively, with a normal storage capacity of 148.4 acre-feet and a maximum discharge of 955 cubic feet per second. With its strategic location and design, Farnam Dam remains a key component in the flood risk management infrastructure of the region, ensuring the safety and security of nearby residents and properties.
As a vital piece of infrastructure in the area, Farnam Dam undergoes regular inspections and maintenance to uphold its functionality and structural integrity. With the potential for significant hazard, the dam's condition is closely monitored, and emergency preparedness measures are in place to address any unforeseen events. As water resource and climate enthusiasts, understanding the role and importance of structures like Farnam Dam is essential in promoting sustainable water management practices and safeguarding communities from the impacts of 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 Farnam Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Republican River At Cambridge | 60 cfs | → |
| Spring Creek Nr Overton | 17 cfs | → |
| Platte River Near Overton | 171 cfs | → |
| Red Willow Creek Near Red Willow | 3 cfs | → |
| Buffalo Creek Nr Overton Nebr | 31 cfs | → |
| South Platte River At North Platte | 1,290 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Farnam Dam.
Boat launches
Campgrounds
- Gallagher Canyon State Rec Area - Cozad
- Potter's Pasture New Campground
- Potter's Pasture Old Campground
- Muny Park
- Lafayette Park
- Lexington City Park
Track Farnam 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 Farnam Dam
Where does the data for Farnam 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 Farnam Dam.