Swan Creek 5 dam
Swan Creek 5
Swan Creek 5 is a vital earth dam located in Swanton, Nebraska, under the ownership of the local government and regulated by the Nebraska Department of Natural Resources. Built in 1988 by the USDA NRCS, this dam plays a crucial role in flood risk reduction along the TR-N FK SWAN CREEK river or stream. With a height of 43 feet and a hydraulic height of 42 feet, Swan Creek 5 has a storage capacity of 2449 acre-feet, serving a drainage area of 7.2 square miles.
The dam, constructed with a stone core and soil foundation, spans 1350 feet in length and covers a surface area of 95 acres. Its maximum discharge capacity reaches 3260 cubic feet per second, making it a significant structure in the region. Despite its satisfactory condition assessment as of October 2019, Swan Creek 5 is classified as having significant hazard potential, highlighting the importance of regular inspections and maintenance to ensure its continued effectiveness in flood risk mitigation. The dam is located in Saline County, Nebraska, within the congressional district represented by Adrian Smith (R).
Overall, Swan Creek 5 stands as a key component in the flood risk reduction efforts in the area, serving as a critical infrastructure to protect against potential inundation. With its strategic location and impressive specifications, this earth dam continues to play a vital role in safeguarding the surrounding community and environment from the impacts of extreme weather events and climate variability. Its operation and regulation by local authorities, in conjunction with state agencies, underscore the collaborative efforts in managing water resources and adapting to changing climate conditions in Nebraska.
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 Swan Creek 5 -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Big Blue River Near Crete | 162 cfs | → |
| West Fork Big Blue River Nr Dorchester | 71 cfs | → |
| Turkey Creek Near De Witt | 105 cfs | → |
| Little Blue River Near Fairbury | 213 cfs | → |
| Haines Branch At Sw 56th St. At Lincoln | 11 cfs | → |
| Salt Creek At Roca | 5 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Swan Creek 5.
Track Swan Creek 5 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 Swan Creek 5
Where does the data for Swan Creek 5 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 Swan Creek 5.