Champion Mill Dam dam
Champion Mill Dam
Champion Mill Dam, located in Chase, Nebraska, along Frenchman Creek, is a historic structure completed in 1887 with a primary purpose of providing recreational opportunities. This earth dam stands at 14 feet in height and stretches 450 feet in length, creating a reservoir with a storage capacity of 140.5 acre-feet. Despite its age, the dam is in satisfactory condition and has a low hazard potential according to the latest inspection in October 2018.
Owned and regulated by the state of Nebraska, specifically the Nebraska Department of Natural Resources, Champion Mill Dam plays a crucial role in maintaining the ecological balance of the surrounding area while offering recreational benefits to visitors. The dam's design, incorporating buttress and stone core types on a soil foundation, reflects a blend of traditional and modern engineering techniques. Its location in the picturesque city of Champion adds to its appeal as a destination for water resource and climate enthusiasts interested in exploring the beauty and functionality of this historic infrastructure.
With no spillway or outlet gates identified, Champion Mill Dam presents a unique opportunity for further study and analysis to enhance its safety and operational efficiency. As a site with a rich history and ecological significance along Frenchman Creek, the dam serves as a valuable resource for understanding the intersection of water management, climate resilience, and recreational use in the state of Nebraska. As efforts continue to preserve and maintain this important structure, Champion Mill Dam stands as a testament to the enduring relationship between humans and water resources in a changing climate landscape.
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 Champion Mill Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Rock Creek At Parks | 4 cfs | → |
| Buffalo Creek Near Haigler | 1 cfs | → |
| North Fork Republican River At Colorado-Nebraska | 31 cfs | → |
| Republican River At Benkelman | 32 cfs | → |
| Arikaree River At Haigler | 10 cfs | → |
| South Fork Republican River Near Benkelman | · | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Champion Mill Dam.
Campgrounds
Fishing spots
Track Champion Mill 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 Champion Mill Dam
Where does the data for Champion Mill 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 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 Champion Mill Dam.