Blackwood Creek 51-A dam
Blackwood Creek 51-A
Blackwood Creek 51-A is a locally owned earth dam located in Hayes, Nebraska, designed by the USDA NRCS with a primary purpose of flood risk reduction. Completed in 1985, this dam stands at 39 feet high with a hydraulic height of 37 feet and a structural height of 62 feet. It has a storage capacity of 726 acre-feet, a normal storage of 69 acre-feet, and covers a surface area of 12 acres.
Managed by the Nebraska Department of Natural Resources, Blackwood Creek 51-A is inspected every five years and has been deemed to have a low hazard potential with a satisfactory condition assessment as of May 2020. The dam has a drainage area of 5 square miles and a maximum discharge of 2,224 cubic feet per second, serving as a crucial infrastructure for flood control in the region. Despite its age, the dam continues to play a vital role in protecting the surrounding area from potential water-related disasters.
Located in the Omaha District, Blackwood Creek 51-A is a testament to effective water resource management and climate resilience efforts in Nebraska. With its strategic design and regular inspections, this dam serves as a crucial asset in mitigating flood risks and safeguarding the community against water-related emergencies. As water resource and climate enthusiasts, the data surrounding Blackwood Creek 51-A underscores the importance of proactive infrastructure planning and maintenance to enhance water security in the face of changing climate patterns.
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 Blackwood Creek 51-A -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Frenchman Creek At Palisade | 13 cfs | → |
| Frenchman Creek At Culbertson | 23 cfs | → |
| Republican River At Mccook Nebr | 28 cfs | → |
| Driftwood Creek Near Mc Cook | 0 cfs | → |
| Republican River At Stratton | 23 cfs | → |
| Red Willow Creek Near Red Willow | 3 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Blackwood Creek 51-A.
Boat launches
Campgrounds
- Red Willow Reservoir State Rec Area
- Kiwanis Point Campground
- Buffalo Roam Campground
- Willow View Campground
- Swanson Reservoir State Rec Area
- Karrer Park
Track Blackwood Creek 51-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 Blackwood Creek 51-A
Where does the data for Blackwood Creek 51-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 Blackwood Creek 51-A.