Upper Salt Creek 6-A dam
Upper Salt Creek 6-A
Upper Salt Creek 6-A is a flood risk reduction dam located in Lancaster, Nebraska, along the Spring Branch of Salt Creek. Built in 1966 by the USDA NRCS, this Earth-type dam stands at 31 feet tall and spans 960 feet in length, providing crucial protection to the surrounding area. With a storage capacity of 971 acre-feet and a drainage area of 2.2 square miles, this dam plays a key role in managing water flow and reducing the risk of flooding in the region.
Managed by the Nebraska Department of Natural Resources, Upper Salt Creek 6-A has a low hazard potential and is in satisfactory condition, as assessed in 2016. The dam's primary purpose is flood risk reduction, and it is inspected every 5 years to ensure its structural integrity and functionality. With a maximum discharge capacity of 1850 cubic feet per second, this dam is equipped to handle significant water volumes during flood events, safeguarding the community and environment downstream.
Owned by the local government and regulated by the Nebraska DNR, Upper Salt Creek 6-A serves as a critical infrastructure for water resource management in the area. Situated in a picturesque landscape with a surface area of 34 acres, this dam is not only a functional piece of engineering but also a vital component in the sustainable management of water resources and climate resilience efforts in the region.
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 6-A -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Salt Creek At Roca | 6 cfs | → |
| Big Blue River Near Crete | 184 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 6-A.
Track Upper Salt Creek 6-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 6-A
Where does the data for Upper Salt Creek 6-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 6-A.