Plum Creek 3-1 dam
Plum Creek 3-1
Plum Creek 3-1 is a crucial water resource structure located in Pawnee, Nebraska, designed by the USDA NRCS with a primary purpose of flood risk reduction. This earth dam, constructed in 1966, stands at a height of 24 feet and spans 645 feet in length. It plays a vital role in managing water flow in the TR-PLUM CREEK stream, with a maximum discharge capacity of 305 cubic feet per second. Despite its importance, the dam is currently rated as having a poor condition assessment, highlighting the need for maintenance and upkeep to ensure its continued effectiveness.
Managed by local government authorities and regulated by the Nebraska Department of Natural Resources, Plum Creek 3-1 serves as a key component in the state's water management infrastructure. With a low hazard potential but poor condition assessment, there is a pressing need for inspection and maintenance to address any potential risks or vulnerabilities. The dam's normal storage capacity of 30 acre-feet provides essential flood protection for the surrounding area, underscoring its importance in safeguarding communities and properties from water-related disasters.
As climate change continues to impact water resources and weather patterns, structures like Plum Creek 3-1 play a vital role in mitigating flood risks and ensuring water security for local residents. With a history of federal funding and oversight from the Natural Resources Conservation Service, it is crucial for stakeholders to prioritize the maintenance and improvement of this dam to uphold its functionality and resilience in the face of evolving environmental challenges.
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 Plum Creek 3-1 -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Big Blue R At Barneston Nebr | 408 cfs | → |
| Big Blue R At Marysville | 272 cfs | → |
| Turkey C Nr Seneca | 38 cfs | → |
| North Fork Big Nemaha River At Humboldt | 195 cfs | → |
| Turkey Creek Near De Witt | 19 cfs | → |
| Black Vermillion R Nr Frankfort | 76 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Plum Creek 3-1.
Boat launches
- Wolf - Wildcat
- Burchard Lake Wma
- Rockford Lake Sra
- Big Indian Recreation Area
- Bear Pierce Lake 2a
- Iron Horse Trail Lake
Track Plum Creek 3-1 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 Plum Creek 3-1
Where does the data for Plum Creek 3-1 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 Plum Creek 3-1.