Wenzl Dam dam
Wenzl Dam
Wenzl Dam, located in Pawnee, Nebraska, was completed in 1978 by designer Leland Jackson of USDA NRCS. This Local Government-owned earth dam stands at a height of 31 feet and serves the primary purpose of flood risk reduction along the TR-ROCK CREEK. With a storage capacity of 130 acre-feet and a surface area of 5 acres, Wenzl Dam plays a crucial role in managing water resources in the region.
Managed by the Nebraska Department of Natural Resources, Wenzl Dam has a satisfactory condition assessment as of June 2016. The dam's inspection frequency is every 5 years, ensuring its structural integrity and safety for surrounding communities. With a maximum discharge capacity of 255 cubic feet per second, the dam is equipped to handle significant water flow during flood events, further highlighting its importance in mitigating flood risks.
As a key component of flood risk management in the area, Wenzl Dam contributes to the overall water resource resilience of Pawnee, Nebraska. With its strategic location and design, this earth dam stands as a testament to effective collaboration between local government and regulatory agencies in safeguarding against potential flooding disasters. For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Wenzl Dam serves as a notable example of infrastructure that plays a critical role in protecting communities and enhancing water management practices.
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 Wenzl Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Big Blue R At Barneston Nebr | 2,280 cfs | → |
| North Fork Big Nemaha River At Humboldt | 850 cfs | → |
| Turkey C Nr Seneca | 147 cfs | → |
| Little Nemaha River At Auburn | 743 cfs | → |
| Big Blue R At Marysville | 3,280 cfs | → |
| Turkey Creek Near De Witt | 195 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Wenzl Dam.
Boat launches
- Burchard Lake Wma
- Wolf - Wildcat
- Rockford Lake Sra
- Iron Horse Trail Lake
- Kirkmans Cove Lake
- Wirth Brothers
Track Wenzl 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 Wenzl Dam
Where does the data for Wenzl 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 Hazard 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 Wenzl Dam.