Rock Creek 21-A dam
Rock Creek 21-A
Rock Creek 21-A is a local government-owned dam in Pawnee, Nebraska, designed by the USDA NRCS and regulated by the Nebraska Department of Natural Resources. Completed in 1974, this earth dam stands at 37 feet tall and spans 905 feet in length, providing flood risk reduction for the surrounding area. With a maximum storage capacity of 668 acre-feet and a normal storage of 69 acre-feet, this dam covers a surface area of 14 acres and drains a 2-square mile watershed.
Located in the Omaha District, Rock Creek 21-A has a low hazard potential and is in satisfactory condition as of its last inspection in June 2016. The dam has a hydraulic height of 35 feet and a structural height of 37 feet, with a maximum discharge capacity of 788 cubic feet per second. While the dam lacks certain features such as a spillway, outlet gates, and locks, it serves its primary purpose effectively and is subject to regular state permitting, inspection, and enforcement.
Water resource and climate enthusiasts will appreciate the valuable flood risk reduction provided by Rock Creek 21-A, as well as its role in managing water flow in the TR-Rock Creek watershed. With its solid design and satisfactory condition, this dam continues to be a critical infrastructure for safeguarding the local community against potential flooding events. Its partnership between local government ownership and USDA NRCS design showcases the collaborative efforts needed to protect water resources and adapt to changing climate conditions in 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 Rock Creek 21-A -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Big Blue R At Barneston Nebr | 2,280 cfs | → |
| North Fork Big Nemaha River At Humboldt | 850 cfs | → |
| Turkey C Nr Seneca | 147 cfs | → |
| Little Nemaha River At Auburn | 743 cfs | → |
| Big Blue R At Marysville | 3,280 cfs | → |
| Turkey Creek Near De Witt | 195 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Rock Creek 21-A.
Boat launches
- Burchard Lake Wma
- Wolf - Wildcat
- Rockford Lake Sra
- Iron Horse Trail Lake
- Wirth Brothers
- Kirkmans Cove Lake
Track Rock Creek 21-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 Rock Creek 21-A
Where does the data for Rock Creek 21-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 Rock Creek 21-A.