Lower Medicine Creek 160 dam
Lower Medicine Creek 160
Located in Frontier, Nebraska, Lower Medicine Creek 160 is a vital flood risk reduction structure designed by the USDA NRCS and completed in 1979. This earth dam stands at a height of 73 feet and spans a length of 1276 feet, with a storage capacity of 10,686 acre-feet and a drainage area of 55.8 square miles. The dam plays a crucial role in mitigating flood hazards in the region, with a significant hazard potential but a satisfactory condition assessment as of the last inspection in April 2019.
Managed by the local government and regulated by the Nebraska Department of Natural Resources, Lower Medicine Creek 160 serves as a key component in the flood risk management strategy for the area. The dam's primary purpose is flood risk reduction, with a focus on protecting the surrounding community and infrastructure from potential inundation during heavy rainfall events. The dam's location on Cedar Creek underscores its importance in safeguarding the region against water-related disasters, with a maximum discharge capacity of 21,935 cubic feet per second to efficiently manage excess water flow.
With its stone core and soil foundation, Lower Medicine Creek 160 stands as a testament to effective water resource management in Nebraska. The dam's role in flood risk reduction, coupled with its satisfactory condition and regular inspections, highlights its significance in ensuring the safety and resilience of the local community. As a crucial piece of infrastructure in the region, this earth dam continues to play a vital role in protecting lives and property from the impacts of extreme weather events, showcasing the importance of sustainable water resource management in the face of a changing climate.
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 Lower Medicine Creek 160 -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Republican River At Cambridge | 60 cfs | → |
| Red Willow Creek Near Red Willow | 3 cfs | → |
| Republican River At Mccook Nebr | 28 cfs | → |
| Driftwood Creek Near Mc Cook | 0 cfs | → |
| Frenchman Creek At Culbertson | 23 cfs | → |
| Beaver Creek Near Beaver City | 1 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Lower Medicine Creek 160.
Boat launches
Campgrounds
- Buffalo Roam Campground
- Willow View Campground
- Kiwanis Point Campground
- Red Willow Reservoir State Rec Area
- Holbrook City Park
- Karrer Park
Track Lower Medicine Creek 160 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 Lower Medicine Creek 160
Where does the data for Lower Medicine Creek 160 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 Significant 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 Lower Medicine Creek 160.