Vanvleet Dam dam
Vanvleet Dam
Vanvleet Dam, located in Red Willow County, Nebraska, is a local government-owned structure designed by USDA NRCS and regulated by the Nebraska Department of Natural Resources. Completed in 1935, the earth dam stands at a height of 17 feet and has a length of 440 feet, providing flood risk reduction and other purposes along the TR-Beaver Creek. Despite its poor condition assessment, the dam has a low hazard potential and a storage capacity of 115 acre-feet.
Situated in the Lebanon area, Vanvleet Dam is a key feature in the local water resource management system, serving as a vital flood control structure for the surrounding community. The dam's foundation is soil-based, with a buttress and stone core construction, contributing to its resilience and stability. With a drainage area of 0.8 square miles, the dam plays a crucial role in regulating water flow and mitigating downstream flood risks.
Ensuring the safety and integrity of Vanvleet Dam is essential, given its age and condition. Regular inspections are conducted, with the last assessment dating back to July 2018. Despite its poor condition rating, the dam's low hazard potential indicates that it poses minimal risk to the area. As climate change continues to impact water resources, maintaining and upgrading structures like Vanvleet Dam will be crucial in safeguarding communities and ecosystems against the growing threat of extreme weather events.
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 Vanvleet Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Beaver C At Cedar Bluffs | · | → |
| Red Willow Creek Near Red Willow | 3 cfs | → |
| Republican River At Mccook Nebr | 28 cfs | → |
| Driftwood Creek Near Mc Cook | 0 cfs | → |
| Sappa C Nr Lyle | 3 cfs | → |
| Republican River At Cambridge | 60 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Vanvleet Dam.
Campgrounds
- Sappa Park
- Karrer Park
- Keith Sebelius Lake Ra
- Prairie Dog State Park
- Holbrook City Park
- Red Willow Reservoir State Rec Area
Fishing spots
- Keith Sebelius (Norton)
- Atwood Lake
- Sheridan State Fishing Lake
- Graham County - Antelope Lake
- Camp Hayes Lake
More reservoirs
Track Vanvleet 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 Vanvleet Dam
Where does the data for Vanvleet 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 Vanvleet Dam.