Hoffins Dam dam
Hoffins Dam
Hoffins Dam, located in Elm Creek, Nebraska, is a privately owned earth dam completed in 1960 for fire protection, stock, and small fish pond purposes. With a height of 10.7 meters and a length of 325 meters, this dam has a storage capacity of 50.8 acre-feet and a normal storage of 15.5 acre-feet, covering a surface area of 4.8 acres. The dam is primarily made of stone core and rests on a soil foundation, serving as a vital resource for the local community.
Managed by the Nebraska Department of Natural Resources, Hoffins Dam is regulated, inspected, and enforced for safety compliance, with a low hazard potential and no current condition rating. The dam's primary function is to provide essential water resources for fire protection and livestock, while also supporting small fish pond activities. Despite its modest size, Hoffins Dam plays a crucial role in water management and conservation efforts along Elm Creek, serving as a valuable asset for both the environment and the community.
As a key feature in the local landscape, Hoffins Dam stands as a testament to the importance of sustainable water resource management in the face of changing climate conditions. With its strategic location and purposeful design, this dam exemplifies the intersection of human ingenuity and environmental stewardship, ensuring the continued availability of water for various needs while maintaining a balance with the natural ecosystem. Hoffins Dam serves as a reminder of the essential role that water resources play in sustaining life and livelihoods, making it a cornerstone of resilience in the face of ongoing climate 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 Hoffins Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Buffalo Creek Nr Overton Nebr | 27 cfs | → |
| Spring Creek Nr Overton | 7 cfs | → |
| Platte River Near Overton | 90 cfs | → |
| Elm Creek Nr Elm Creek | 10 cfs | → |
| Platte R Mid Ch | 79 cfs | → |
| Platte River Near Kearney | 21 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Hoffins Dam.
Track Hoffins 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 Hoffins Dam
Where does the data for Hoffins 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 Hoffins Dam.