Ruf Dam dam
Ruf Dam
Ruf Dam, located in Nebraska along TR-BEAVER CREEK, is a privately-owned structure that serves multiple purposes including flood risk reduction. Built in 1980, this earth dam stands at a height of 12 feet with a length of 255 feet, providing a storage capacity of 64.1 acre-feet. Despite its low hazard potential, the dam is state-regulated and undergoes regular inspections by the Nebraska Department of Natural Resources to ensure its safety and compliance with regulations.
Situated in Wilsonville, Furnas County, Nebraska, Ruf Dam is part of the Omaha District and falls under Congressional District 03, represented by Adrian Smith (R). The dam's design features stone core and soil foundation, with a surface area of 7.8 acres and a drainage area of 1.33 square miles. While the dam's condition is currently not rated, it is maintained to meet state permitting and inspection requirements, demonstrating a commitment to water resource management and climate resilience in the region.
With a normal storage capacity of 35.1 acre-feet, Ruf Dam plays a vital role in mitigating flood risks and managing water resources in the area. Its location within a rural setting underscores the importance of maintaining infrastructure to safeguard against potential hazards and ensure the sustainable use of water for the community. As water resource and climate enthusiasts, understanding the significance of dams like Ruf Dam in enhancing resilience and protecting valuable resources is essential for promoting sustainable development and environmental stewardship in the face of changing climate conditions.
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 Ruf Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Republican River At Cambridge | 60 cfs | → |
| Sappa C Nr Lyle | 3 cfs | → |
| Beaver Creek Near Beaver City | 1 cfs | → |
| Red Willow Creek Near Red Willow | 3 cfs | → |
| Beaver C At Cedar Bluffs | · | → |
| Republican River At Mccook Nebr | 28 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Ruf Dam.
Campgrounds
- Holbrook City Park
- West Side Park - Beaver City
- Karrer Park
- Prairie Dog State Park
- Keith Sebelius Lake Ra
- Sappa Park
Fishing spots
- Keith Sebelius (Norton)
- Atwood Lake
- Camp Hayes Lake
- Graham County - Antelope Lake
- Sheridan State Fishing Lake
More reservoirs
Track Ruf 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 Ruf Dam
Where does the data for Ruf 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 Ruf Dam.