Spencer Dam 1496 dam
Spencer Dam 1496
Spencer Dam 1496 is a privately owned earth dam located in Red Willow, Nebraska, along the TR-Republican River. Built in 1955, this dam serves multiple purposes including fire protection, stock, and small fish pond management. Standing at a height of 18 feet with a length of 315 feet, the dam has a storage capacity of 98 acre-feet and a drainage area of 7 square miles.
Despite its low hazard potential, Spencer Dam 1496 is currently in poor condition, as assessed in December 2016. The dam is regulated by the Nebraska Department of Natural Resources and undergoes regular inspections, with the last one conducted in December 2016. The dam has a history of modifications but lacks an emergency action plan and adequate risk assessment measures.
Located within Congressional District 03 of Nebraska, Spencer Dam 1496 is overseen by the Omaha District of the US Army Corps of Engineers. With a maximum discharge capacity of 670 cubic feet per second, the dam plays a crucial role in managing water resources in the region. As a key infrastructure for water management and conservation, ensuring the proper maintenance and safety of Spencer Dam 1496 is essential for protecting downstream communities and the surrounding ecosystem.
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 Spencer Dam 1496 -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Republican River At Mccook Nebr | 29 cfs | → |
| Driftwood Creek Near Mc Cook | 0 cfs | → |
| Frenchman Creek At Culbertson | 23 cfs | → |
| Red Willow Creek Near Red Willow | 4 cfs | → |
| Beaver C At Cedar Bluffs | · | → |
| Frenchman Creek At Palisade | 13 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Spencer Dam 1496.
Boat launches
Campgrounds
- Red Willow Reservoir State Rec Area
- Kiwanis Point Campground
- Willow View Campground
- Karrer Park
- Buffalo Roam Campground
- Swanson Reservoir State Rec Area
Track Spencer Dam 1496 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 Spencer Dam 1496
Where does the data for Spencer Dam 1496 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 Spencer Dam 1496.