Garland Northwest Dam dam
Garland Northwest Dam
Garland Northwest Dam, located in Seward, Nebraska, is a local government-owned structure designed for flood risk reduction on the TR-Middle Oak Creek. Completed in 2001, this earth dam stands at a height of 30 feet and spans 420 feet in length, with a storage capacity of 54 acre-feet. Despite its low hazard potential, the dam's condition assessment is rated as poor, highlighting the need for regular inspections to ensure its safety and functionality.
Managed by the Nebraska Department of Natural Resources, the Garland Northwest Dam plays a crucial role in regulating water resources in the area, with a normal storage capacity of 23 acre-feet and a maximum discharge of 265 cubic feet per second. Although the dam has not undergone significant modifications since its completion, its inspection frequency is set at every five years to monitor its structural integrity. As climate patterns continue to shift, the importance of maintaining and upgrading infrastructure like Garland Northwest Dam becomes increasingly essential to mitigate potential risks and adapt to changing environmental conditions.
As a key component of the local flood risk reduction infrastructure, Garland Northwest Dam serves as a vital resource for water management in the region, supported by state regulatory agencies and regular inspections. Despite its poor condition assessment, the dam's low hazard potential underscores its value in protecting surrounding communities from potential flooding events. Moving forward, proactive measures and investments in maintenance and upgrades will be essential to ensure the long-term safety and effectiveness of this critical water resource infrastructure in the face of evolving climate challenges.
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 Garland Northwest Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Oak Creek At Air Park Rd At Lincoln | 10 cfs | → |
| Middle Creek At Sw 40th St. At Lincoln | 1 cfs | → |
| Little Salt Creek Near Lincoln | 2 cfs | → |
| Haines Branch At Sw 56th St. At Lincoln | 0 cfs | → |
| Salt Creek At Lincoln | 74 cfs | → |
| West Fork Big Blue River Nr Dorchester | 68 cfs | → |
About Garland Northwest Dam
Where does the data for Garland Northwest 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 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 below 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.
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.