Lake Helen Dam dam
Lake Helen Dam
Lake Helen Dam, located in Gothenburg, Nebraska, stands as a testament to engineering ingenuity since its completion in 1891. This Earth-type dam, with a height of 27.2 feet and a hydraulic height of 26.8 feet, serves primarily for recreational purposes, offering a serene oasis for water resource and climate enthusiasts to explore. With a normal storage capacity of 138.2 acre-feet and a drainage area of 0.4 square miles, the dam provides essential water management functions while also enhancing the natural beauty of the surrounding area.
Managed by the local government and regulated by the Nebraska Department of Natural Resources, Lake Helen Dam has a high hazard potential but is currently assessed to be in satisfactory condition. Regular inspections ensure its structural integrity, with the last assessment conducted in August 2020. Despite its age, the dam continues to play a vital role in the community, offering a safe and enjoyable space for outdoor activities such as boating, fishing, and wildlife observation. As climate change poses new challenges to water resource management, Lake Helen Dam remains a resilient and essential piece of infrastructure in the region.
As water resources become increasingly scarce and climate impacts intensify, the preservation and maintenance of dams like Lake Helen become paramount in ensuring water security and environmental sustainability. With a storage capacity of 566.4 acre-feet and a maximum discharge of 1159 cubic feet per second, this historic dam continues to provide valuable ecosystem services and recreational opportunities for locals and visitors alike. Its role in flood control, water supply, and habitat conservation underscores the importance of proactive management and investment in our water infrastructure to adapt to a changing climate and safeguard our natural resources for future generations.
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 Lake Helen Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| South Platte River At North Platte | 1,290 cfs | → |
| Spring Creek Nr Overton | 18 cfs | → |
| Platte River Near Overton | 295 cfs | → |
| Buffalo Creek Nr Overton Nebr | 28 cfs | → |
| Elm Creek Nr Elm Creek | 8 cfs | → |
| Platte R Mid Ch | 263 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Lake Helen Dam.
Boat launches
Campgrounds
- Lafayette Park
- Muny Park
- Potter's Pasture New Campground
- Potter's Pasture Old Campground
- Gallagher Canyon State Rec Area - Cozad
- Lexington City Park
Fishing spots
- Maxwell Rest Stop Dor
- Fort Mcpherson Dor
- Fremont Slough
- North Platte I-80 City Lake
- Birdwood Lake
- East Hershey Lake
More reservoirs
Track Lake Helen Dam 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 Lake Helen Dam
Where does the data for Lake Helen Dam 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 Lake Helen Dam.