Virginia Smith dam
Virginia Smith
Virginia Smith, also known as Calamus Dam, is a federal-owned structure located in Garfield, Nebraska, along the Calamus River. Managed by the Bureau of Reclamation, this earth-type dam was completed in 1985 primarily for irrigation purposes. With a height of 91 feet and a storage capacity of 177,623 acre-feet, Virginia Smith plays a vital role in water resource management in the region.
The dam, with a high hazard potential, is regulated and inspected by the Bureau of Reclamation to ensure its structural integrity and safety. Despite its importance for irrigation, the condition assessment of Virginia Smith is currently not available. However, emergency action plans are in place, and periodic inspections are conducted to mitigate any potential risks associated with the dam. With its significant storage capacity and impact on the local water supply, Virginia Smith remains a key infrastructure for water resource management in Nebraska.
In the event of an emergency, the dam has designated emergency contacts and an emergency action plan that meets guidelines, ensuring prompt response and risk management measures. Although the risk assessment and characterization summary are not available, the Bureau of Reclamation continues to oversee the operations and maintenance of Virginia Smith to safeguard the surrounding community and water resources. As climate change impacts water availability and quality, structures like Virginia Smith play a crucial role in sustainable water management practices in the face of evolving environmental challenges.
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 Virginia Smith -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| North Loup River At Taylor | 353 cfs | → |
| North Loup R At Brewster | 410 cfs | → |
| Middle Loup River At Dunning | 515 cfs | → |
| Elkhorn River At Ewing | 67 cfs | → |
| North Loup River Nr St Paul Nebr | 421 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Virginia Smith.
Boat launches
Track Virginia Smith 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 Virginia Smith
Where does the data for Virginia Smith 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 High 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 Virginia Smith.