Rolling Hills Dam dam
Rolling Hills Dam
Rolling Hills Dam, located in Buffalo County, Nebraska, is a local government-owned structure designed by the USDA NRCS and completed in 1967. With a primary purpose of recreation, this earth dam stands at a height of 7.5 feet and has a storage capacity of 72.2 acre-feet. The dam is situated on the TR-Platte River, just 4 miles from Kearney, and is regulated by the Nebraska Department of Natural Resources.
Despite being classified as having a "significant" hazard potential, Rolling Hills Dam is currently in fair condition as of the last inspection in June 2019. The dam's structural height matches its hydraulic height at 7.5 feet, with a length of 260 feet and a surface area of 6.1 acres. While there is no spillway type specified, the dam has a maximum discharge capacity of 190 cubic feet per second, serving the local community for both recreation and water resource management purposes.
Water resource and climate enthusiasts will find Rolling Hills Dam an interesting case study in the management and regulation of a recreational earth dam in the heart of Nebraska. Owned by the local government and designed by the USDA NRCS, this structure provides essential water storage for the area while also offering opportunities for leisure activities. With its location on the TR-Platte River and a storage capacity of 72.2 acre-feet, Rolling Hills Dam showcases the intersection of human infrastructure and natural resources in a dynamic ecosystem.
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 Rolling Hills Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Platte River Near Kearney | 20 cfs | → |
| Elm Creek Nr Elm Creek | 7 cfs | → |
| Platte R Mid Ch | 76 cfs | → |
| Buffalo Creek Nr Overton Nebr | 24 cfs | → |
| Platte River Near Overton | 82 cfs | → |
| Spring Creek Nr Overton | 4 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Rolling Hills Dam.
Track Rolling Hills 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 Rolling Hills Dam
Where does the data for Rolling Hills 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 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 Rolling Hills Dam.