Long Branch 42 dam
Long Branch 42
Long Branch 42, located in Richardson, Nebraska, is a crucial flood risk reduction structure designed by the USDA NRCS and regulated by the Nebraska Department of Natural Resources. Completed in 1981, this earth dam stands at 38 feet high and stretches 750 feet in length, providing a storage capacity of 229 acre-feet to manage the flow of the Crooked Branch Creek. With a low hazard potential and satisfactory condition assessment, Long Branch 42 serves as a vital piece of infrastructure in mitigating flood risks in the region.
Managed by local government authorities, Long Branch 42 plays a significant role in protecting the community from potential flooding events. The dam's primary purpose remains flood risk reduction, with a design that includes stone core and soil foundation, ensuring structural integrity and reliability. The dam's location near Humboldt underscores its importance in safeguarding the surrounding area from water-related emergencies, with a maximum discharge capacity of 432 cubic feet per second.
Despite its age, Long Branch 42 continues to meet inspection and regulatory standards, demonstrating its essential role in water resource management. With a history of satisfactory condition assessments and a comprehensive emergency action plan, this earth dam exemplifies effective collaboration between federal agencies like the USDA NRCS and state authorities like the Nebraska DNR. As water resource and climate enthusiasts, understanding the significance of structures like Long Branch 42 is vital in appreciating the efforts made to protect communities from the impacts 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 Long Branch 42 -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| North Fork Big Nemaha River At Humboldt | 850 cfs | → |
| Little Nemaha River At Auburn | 743 cfs | → |
| Turkey C Nr Seneca | 147 cfs | → |
| Big Nemaha River At Falls City | 1,470 cfs | → |
| Missouri River At Rulo | 39,800 cfs | → |
| Tarkio River At Fairfax Mo | 540 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Long Branch 42.
Boat launches
- Kirkmans Cove Lake
- Iron Horse Trail Lake
- Burchard Lake Wma
- Wirth Brothers
- Pony Creek Boat Ramp
- Brownville Riverside City Park
Track Long Branch 42 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 Long Branch 42
Where does the data for Long Branch 42 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 Long Branch 42.