Bennington Lake Basin 1 dam
Bennington Lake Basin 1
Bennington Lake Basin 1, located in Douglas County, Nebraska, is a vital water resource managed by the local government. This Earth type dam, completed in 2000, serves multiple purposes including flood risk reduction and other water management functions. With a height of 28 feet and a storage capacity of 775 acre-feet, this reservoir plays a crucial role in regulating the flow of the Big Papio Creek and protecting the surrounding area from potential water hazards.
Managed by the Nebraska Department of Natural Resources, Bennington Lake Basin 1 has a significant hazard potential but is currently in satisfactory condition, according to the last inspection conducted in May 2018. The dam has a hydraulic height of 31 feet and a structural height of 33 feet, with a drainage area of 2.6 square miles. The reservoir covers an area of 43 acres and has a normal storage capacity of 311 acre-feet, providing essential water storage for the community and supporting the ecological health of the region.
Despite being a local project, Bennington Lake Basin 1 is regulated by the state and has undergone regular inspections and enforcement measures to ensure its safety and functionality. With a maximum discharge capacity of 5300 cubic feet per second, this dam is a key component of the water infrastructure in the area, contributing to the overall resilience of the region in the face of changing climate patterns and water resource management 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 Bennington Lake Basin 1 -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Big Papillion Cr | 76 cfs | → |
| Elkhorn River At Waterloo | 1,700 cfs | → |
| Platte River Nr Leshara | 2,960 cfs | → |
| Missouri River At Omaha | 34,600 cfs | → |
| Maple Creek Near Nickerson | 153 cfs | → |
| Platte R Nr Ashland | 4,980 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Bennington Lake Basin 1.
Boat launches
- Prairie View Recreation Area
- Main Boat Ramp
- Elkhorn Crossing Recreation
- North 242nd Street Douglas County
- Waterloo River Access
Track Bennington Lake Basin 1 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 Bennington Lake Basin 1
Where does the data for Bennington Lake Basin 1 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 Significant 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 Bennington Lake Basin 1.