Bellwood 3-B dam
Bellwood 3-B
Bellwood 3-B is a vital earth dam located in Butler, Nebraska, designed by the USDA NRCS in 1974 for flood risk reduction along Wilson Creek. It stands at 39 feet high with a hydraulic height of 38 feet, protecting a drainage area of 5.8 square miles with a storage capacity of 1201 acre-feet. Despite its low hazard potential and satisfactory condition assessment, the dam undergoes inspections every 5 years by the NE DNR to ensure its structural integrity and functionality in flood management.
Owned and regulated by the local government, Bellwood 3-B plays a crucial role in safeguarding the surrounding area from potential flooding events. The dam's primary purpose remains flood risk reduction, with a normal storage capacity of 87 acre-feet and a maximum discharge rate of 2380 cubic feet per second. Its location in NES3T15R1E is closely monitored for any necessary maintenance or improvements to uphold its operational effectiveness and safety standards.
With its stone core and soil foundation, Bellwood 3-B serves as a key infrastructure asset in the Kansas City District, offering protection to the community of ROGERS against the impacts of extreme weather events. As water resource and climate enthusiasts, the significance of this dam lies in its contribution to mitigating flood risks and ensuring the resilience of the local ecosystem in Butler, Nebraska.
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 Bellwood 3-B -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Clear Cr 1.75mi W Of Polk Co Line | 43 cfs | → |
| Platte River Near Duncan | 250 cfs | → |
| Shell Creek Near Columbus | 59 cfs | → |
| Prairie Creek Nr Silver Creek Nebr | 22 cfs | → |
| Silver Cr | 11 cfs | → |
| Loup River Near Genoa | 520 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Bellwood 3-B.
Track Bellwood 3-B 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 Bellwood 3-B
Where does the data for Bellwood 3-B 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 Bellwood 3-B.