Upper Salt Creek 13-A dam
Upper Salt Creek 13-A
Upper Salt Creek 13-A is a flood risk reduction dam located in Lancaster, Nebraska, along the TR-OLIVE BR SALT CREEK river. Built in 1959 by the USDA NRCS, this earth dam stands at a height of 40 feet and has a length of 1007 feet, providing storage capacity of 521 acre-feet. The dam, designed for flood risk reduction, has a low hazard potential and was last inspected in May 2019, with a satisfactory condition assessment.
Owned by the local government and regulated by the Nebraska Department of Natural Resources, Upper Salt Creek 13-A plays a crucial role in mitigating flood risks in the area. With a drainage area of 0.8 square miles and the capability to handle a maximum discharge of 6000 cubic feet per second, this dam serves as a valuable asset in safeguarding the surrounding community from potential flooding events. Despite its age, Upper Salt Creek 13-A continues to meet regulatory standards and remains a reliable structure for water resource management in the region.
With its strategic location and effective design, Upper Salt Creek 13-A exemplifies the importance of infrastructure in addressing climate-related challenges. As climate change intensifies the frequency and severity of extreme weather events, structures like this earth dam are essential for protecting communities and minimizing the impact of flooding. Managed by the Natural Resources Conservation Service, this dam stands as a testament to the proactive measures taken to enhance water resource resilience and ensure the safety of residents in the face of changing environmental 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 Upper Salt Creek 13-A -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Big Blue River Near Crete | 184 cfs | → |
| Salt Creek At Roca | 6 cfs | → |
| Haines Branch At Sw 56th St. At Lincoln | 13 cfs | → |
| Turkey Creek Near De Witt | 127 cfs | → |
| Salt Creek At Pioneers Blvd At Lincoln | 11 cfs | → |
| Middle Creek At Sw 40th St. At Lincoln | 1 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Upper Salt Creek 13-A.
Track Upper Salt Creek 13-A 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 Upper Salt Creek 13-A
Where does the data for Upper Salt Creek 13-A 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 Upper Salt Creek 13-A.