Ray Nelson Erosion Control Dam dam
Ray Nelson Erosion Control Dam
The Ray Nelson Erosion Control Dam, located in Keith County, Nebraska, is a vital structure designed by the USDA NRCS to mitigate erosion along the TR-South Platte River. Completed in 1983, this earth dam stands at a height of 16.3 feet and spans 426 feet in length, offering flood risk reduction and other essential benefits for the local community. With a storage capacity of 97.3 acre-feet and a low hazard potential, this dam plays a crucial role in protecting the surrounding area from potential water-related hazards.
Managed by a private owner and regulated by the NE DNR, this dam undergoes regular inspections and meets state permitting and enforcement requirements to ensure its structural integrity. The dam's primary purpose goes beyond flood risk reduction, serving as a key element in controlling erosion and protecting the environment. Even though its condition assessment is not rated, the Ray Nelson Erosion Control Dam continues to fulfill its role in safeguarding the region's water resources and climate stability.
Strategically located in the Kansas City District, this dam contributes to water management efforts in the region, with a drainage area of 1.8 square miles and a maximum discharge capacity of 316 cubic feet per second. Despite being privately owned, this essential infrastructure has a significant impact on the local ecosystem, highlighting the importance of erosion control and water resource management in sustaining a healthy environment for future generations.
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 Ray Nelson Erosion Control Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| South Platte River At Roscoe Nebr | 27 cfs | → |
| S. Platte R. At Julesburg | -999 cfs | → |
| South Platte River At North Platte | 1,290 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Ray Nelson Erosion Control Dam.
Boat launches
Campgrounds
Track Ray Nelson Erosion Control 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 Ray Nelson Erosion Control Dam
Where does the data for Ray Nelson Erosion Control 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 Ray Nelson Erosion Control Dam.