Van Housen Lagoon Dam dam
Van Housen Lagoon Dam
Van Housen Lagoon Dam, located in Stromsburg, Nebraska, is a privately owned structure regulated by the Nebraska Department of Natural Resources. Built in 1985, the earth dam stands at 15 feet in height and spans 250 feet in length, providing a storage capacity of 75 acre-feet. The dam serves primarily for purposes other than flood control or water supply, with a normal storage capacity of 60 acre-feet and a drainage area of 0.1 square miles.
Designed by Settje Agri-Services & Engineering, the dam is constructed with a stone core and soil foundation, maintaining a satisfactory condition as of the last assessment in April 2018. It is situated on the TR-Big Blue River and falls under the jurisdiction of the Omaha District of the US Army Corps of Engineers. Despite being a non-federal structure, the dam undergoes regular state inspections and enforcement to ensure its safety and compliance with regulations.
Water resource and climate enthusiasts interested in the management and maintenance of dams will find Van Housen Lagoon Dam a fascinating case study. With its unique design features, regulatory oversight by the Nebraska DNR, and the involvement of private owners and engineering firms, this dam serves as a noteworthy example of water infrastructure in the region. The dam's history, construction details, and state-regulated operations offer valuable insights into the complexities of managing water resources in a sustainable and responsible manner.
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 Van Housen Lagoon Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Silver Cr | 10 cfs | → |
| Prairie Creek Nr Silver Creek Nebr | 9 cfs | → |
| Warm Slough Nr Central City | · | → |
| Platte River Near Duncan | 1,660 cfs | → |
| Loup River Power Canal Near Genoa | 1,980 cfs | → |
| Loup River Near Genoa | 412 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Van Housen Lagoon Dam.
Track Van Housen Lagoon 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 Van Housen Lagoon Dam
Where does the data for Van Housen Lagoon 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 Hazard 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 Van Housen Lagoon Dam.