South Branch 63 dam
South Branch 63
South Branch 63, located in Johnson County, Nebraska, is a locally-owned earth dam completed in 1994 by the USDA NRCS with a primary purpose of flood risk reduction. The dam stands at 46 feet tall with a structural height of 40 feet and a length of 918 feet. It has a storage capacity of 536 acre-feet, with a normal storage of 98 acre-feet and a drainage area of 2.3 square miles. Despite its low hazard potential, the dam is regularly inspected by the Nebraska Department of Natural Resources to ensure its satisfactory condition.
Managed by the Natural Resources Conservation Service, South Branch 63 serves as a critical infrastructure for flood control along the South Fork Little Nemaha River. The dam's stone core and soil foundation contribute to its stability, with a maximum discharge capacity of 1,248 cubic feet per second. The dam covers a surface area of 15 acres and is situated within the Kansas City District, ensuring effective oversight and regulation. Its location in the city of Brock highlights its importance in protecting the local community from potential flood events.
With a history of successful flood risk reduction and a comprehensive inspection and maintenance program in place, South Branch 63 exemplifies effective water resource management in Nebraska. Its role in safeguarding the surrounding area from inundation underscores the importance of proactive infrastructure investment in mitigating the impacts of climate change. As a key component of the state's flood control strategy, this dam stands as a testament to the collaborative efforts between local government agencies and the USDA NRCS in ensuring the resilience of water resources in the region.
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 South Branch 63 -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Salt Creek At Roca | 6 cfs | → |
| Little Nemaha River At Auburn | 743 cfs | → |
| Missouri River At Nebraska City | 37,500 cfs | → |
| Weeping Water Creek At Union | 64 cfs | → |
| North Fork Big Nemaha River At Humboldt | 850 cfs | → |
| Stevens Creek Nr. Lincoln | 11 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near South Branch 63.
Track South Branch 63 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 South Branch 63
Where does the data for South Branch 63 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 South Branch 63.