Cow Creek 4 dam
Cow Creek 4
Cow Creek 4, located in Cherry County, Nebraska, is a privately owned Earth dam constructed in 1998 by USDA NRCS for flood risk reduction purposes. This 21-foot tall structure on the Cow Creek river has a storage capacity of 74 acre-feet, serving a drainage area of 13.4 square miles. With a low hazard potential and satisfactory condition assessment, the dam is regulated by the Nebraska Department of Natural Resources and undergoes regular inspections, with the last one conducted in July 2020.
Managed by private owners, Cow Creek 4 plays a crucial role in mitigating flood risks in the region and maintaining water resources for agricultural and environmental purposes. Its stone core and soil foundation contribute to its structural integrity, while the dam's 569-foot length and 8-acre surface area provide ample protection for the surrounding area. Despite its low hazard potential, the dam is equipped with a 235 cubic feet per second maximum discharge capacity to manage excess water flow during heavy rainfall events.
Adrian Smith (R) represents the district where Cow Creek 4 is located, ensuring congressional oversight and support for the dam's operations and maintenance. With a 10-year inspection frequency and a geographical location in Brewster, Nebraska, Cow Creek 4 stands as a testament to effective water resource management and climate resilience efforts 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 Cow Creek 4 -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Dismal River Near Thedford | 264 cfs | → |
| Middle Loup River At Dunning | 518 cfs | → |
| North Loup R At Brewster | 430 cfs | → |
| Niobrara River Near Sparks | 734 cfs | → |
| Long Pine Creek Near Riverview | 197 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Cow Creek 4.
Boat launches
- Rat &Amp; Beaver Wma
- Willow Lake B.C., Wma
- Pelican Concrete Ramp
- Dewey Lake Rock Ramp
- Valentine National Wildlife Refuge
- Pelican Sand/Gravel
Track Cow Creek 4 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 Cow Creek 4
Where does the data for Cow Creek 4 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 Cow Creek 4.