League Dam dam
League Dam
League Dam, located in Douglas, Nebraska, is a privately owned structure designed for flood risk reduction on the Elkhorn River. Completed in 1960, this earth dam stands at a height of 29 feet and spans 260 feet in length, with a storage capacity of 17.6 acre-feet. Despite its significant hazard potential, the dam's condition assessment is currently rated as poor, highlighting the need for ongoing maintenance and monitoring to ensure its effectiveness in mitigating flood risks.
Managed by the Nebraska Department of Natural Resources, League Dam is subject to state regulation and inspection, with enforcement measures in place to maintain its structural integrity and safety. The dam's primary purpose is flood risk reduction, aligning with its design as an earth dam with stone core types and soil foundations. Although the dam has not undergone significant modifications in recent years, its last inspection in August 2019 revealed the need for improvement in its overall condition. Water resource and climate enthusiasts can appreciate the vital role League Dam plays in protecting the surrounding area from potential flooding events, while also recognizing the importance of regular maintenance and risk assessment to ensure its continued functionality.
With a limited surface area of 0.01 square miles and a drainage area of 0.2 square miles, League Dam has a maximum discharge capacity of 138 cubic feet per second, highlighting its crucial role in managing water flow during peak flood periods. The dam's location within the Kansas City District of the US Army Corps of Engineers underscores its strategic importance in the region's flood risk management strategy. As climate change continues to impact precipitation patterns and water availability, the maintenance and operation of structures like League Dam will be essential in safeguarding communities and ecosystems from the increasing threat of flooding.
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 League Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Elkhorn River At Waterloo | 1,030 cfs | → |
| Platte River Nr Leshara | 1,750 cfs | → |
| Big Papillion Cr | 38 cfs | → |
| Maple Creek Near Nickerson | 44 cfs | → |
| Missouri River At Omaha | 29,100 cfs | → |
| Wahoo Creek At Ithaca | 44 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near League Dam.
Track League 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 League Dam
Where does the data for League 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 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 League Dam.