Upper Big Nemaha 14-A dam
Upper Big Nemaha 14-A
Upper Big Nemaha 14-A, located in Lancaster, Nebraska, is a local government-owned earth dam designed by USDA NRCS to primarily manage flood risk along the TR-MID BR Big Nemaha River. Completed in 1983, this dam stands at a height of 21 feet and has a hydraulic height of 20 feet, providing a storage capacity of 210 acre-feet. With a satisfactory condition assessment and low hazard potential, this structure plays a crucial role in flood risk reduction in the region.
Managed by the Nebraska Department of Natural Resources, Upper Big Nemaha 14-A is subject to state regulation, inspection, and enforcement to ensure its structural integrity and operational effectiveness. The dam's drainage area spans 0.5 square miles, with a maximum discharge capacity of 665 cubic feet per second. With a history of regular inspections and a last assessment in September 2016, this dam has shown a reliable performance in safeguarding the surrounding area from potential flooding events.
Despite its modest size and localized impact, Upper Big Nemaha 14-A serves as a vital component of the flood management infrastructure in the region. With its stone core and soil foundation, this earth dam reflects a successful collaboration between federal agencies, local government, and regulatory bodies to enhance resilience to climate-related risks and protect the community from potential water-related disasters.
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 Upper Big Nemaha 14-A -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Salt Creek At Roca | 6 cfs | → |
| Big Blue River Near Crete | 162 cfs | → |
| Salt Creek At Pioneers Blvd At Lincoln | 11 cfs | → |
| Haines Branch At Sw 56th St. At Lincoln | 11 cfs | → |
| Turkey Creek Near De Witt | 105 cfs | → |
| Middle Creek At Sw 40th St. At Lincoln | 1 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Upper Big Nemaha 14-A.
Track Upper Big Nemaha 14-A 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 Upper Big Nemaha 14-A
Where does the data for Upper Big Nemaha 14-A 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 Upper Big Nemaha 14-A.