Walnut Creek 1 dam
Walnut Creek 1
Walnut Creek 1, located in Saline, Nebraska, is a crucial flood risk reduction structure designed by USDA NRCS in 1979. This earth dam stands at a height of 25 feet and has a structural height of 28 feet, with a length of 805 feet and a storage capacity of 492 acre-feet. Its primary purpose is flood risk reduction, serving to protect the surrounding area from potential inundation during heavy rainfall events. The dam is regulated, permitted, inspected, and enforced by the Nebraska Department of Natural Resources, ensuring its functionality and safety.
With a significant hazard potential and a satisfactory condition assessment, Walnut Creek 1 plays a vital role in managing water resources in the region. The dam has a normal storage capacity of 75 acre-feet and covers a surface area of 16 acres, serving a drainage area of 1.1 square miles. It has a maximum discharge capacity of 970 cubic feet per second, providing essential flood control measures for the community. The dam's last inspection in September 2020 deemed it to be in satisfactory condition, further highlighting its importance in maintaining the safety and security of the area.
Managed by the local government and situated in the Omaha District, Walnut Creek 1 is a key asset in the flood risk reduction infrastructure of Nebraska. With its strategic location along the TR-Walnut Creek, this earth dam continues to be a critical component in mitigating the impacts of extreme weather events on the surrounding environment. Through regular inspections and enforcement measures, the dam ensures the protection of the community against potential flooding, showcasing its essential role in water resource management and climate resilience efforts.
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 Walnut Creek 1 -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Big Blue River Near Crete | 162 cfs | → |
| Haines Branch At Sw 56th St. At Lincoln | 11 cfs | → |
| West Fork Big Blue River Nr Dorchester | 71 cfs | → |
| Middle Creek At Sw 40th St. At Lincoln | 1 cfs | → |
| Salt Creek At Pioneers Blvd At Lincoln | 9 cfs | → |
| Salt Creek At Roca | 5 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Walnut Creek 1.
Boat launches
Campgrounds
Track Walnut Creek 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 Walnut Creek 1
Where does the data for Walnut Creek 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 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 Walnut Creek 1.