Buffalo Creek Gs-7 dam
Buffalo Creek Gs-7
Buffalo Creek Gs-7 is a local government-owned dam located in Cedar Creek, Nebraska, designed by the USDA NRCS and regulated by the Nebraska Department of Natural Resources. This Earth-type dam stands at a height of 30 feet with a structural height of 32 feet and a hydraulic height of 27 feet. Completed in 1990, it serves the primary purpose of flood risk reduction, with a storage capacity of 70 acre-feet and a maximum discharge rate of 166 cubic feet per second.
Despite its low hazard potential and satisfactory condition assessment, Buffalo Creek Gs-7 is subject to regular inspections every five years to ensure its continued safe operation. The dam's drainage area spans 1.5 square miles, with no normal storage capacity or surface area specified. While the dam does not have spillways or outlet gates, it plays a crucial role in mitigating flood risks in the region, highlighting the importance of effective water resource management and climate resilience efforts in safeguarding communities against natural disasters.
As part of the broader network of infrastructure designed to protect against flooding, Buffalo Creek Gs-7 stands as a vital asset in the region, contributing to the overall water resource management efforts in Sarpy County, Nebraska. Its construction and operation reflect the collaborative efforts between federal and local agencies to enhance community resilience and ensure the safety of residents in the face of potential climate-related challenges. With its history of successful flood risk reduction and ongoing regulatory oversight, Buffalo Creek Gs-7 serves as a testament to the importance of sustainable water resource practices in building climate-adaptive communities.
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 Buffalo Creek Gs-7 -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Platte R Nr Ashland | 6,100 cfs | → |
| Platte R At Louisville Ne | 6,590 cfs | → |
| Wahoo Cr At Ashland | 156 cfs | → |
| Salt Creek At Greenwood | 379 cfs | → |
| Elkhorn River At Waterloo | 1,580 cfs | → |
| Wahoo Creek At Ithaca | 109 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Buffalo Creek Gs-7.
Boat launches
- Main Boat Ramp
- Louisville Platte River Boat Ramp
- Lake 2
- Chalco Hills Recreation Area
- Prairie Queen
- Walnut Creek Recreation Area
Track Buffalo Creek Gs-7 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 Buffalo Creek Gs-7
Where does the data for Buffalo Creek Gs-7 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 Buffalo Creek Gs-7.