Butterfield Dam dam
Butterfield Dam
Butterfield Dam, located in Knox, Nebraska, is a private earth dam designed by USDA NRCS and completed in 1985 for flood risk reduction and other purposes. This 32-foot tall structure has a hydraulic height of 19 feet and a length of 210 feet, with a storage capacity of 54 acre-feet. Situated on the TR-MID BR VERDIGRE CREEK, this dam plays a crucial role in managing water resources in the area, with a low hazard potential but a poor condition assessment as of the last inspection in April 2020.
Managed by the Nebraska Department of Natural Resources, Butterfield Dam is state-regulated and inspected regularly to ensure its structural integrity and safety. While it currently has poor condition assessment, necessary measures are likely being taken to improve its overall stability and functionality. With a maximum discharge capacity of 172 cubic feet per second and a drainage area of 1.8 square miles, this dam serves as a vital component in the local water management system, despite its condition assessment.
In the event of an emergency, it is essential for the dam to have an Emergency Action Plan (EAP) in place, although the status of this plan for Butterfield Dam is currently unknown. With its strategic location and importance for flood risk reduction, Butterfield Dam stands as a key infrastructure for water resource management in Nebraska, showcasing the critical role of dams in mitigating the impacts of climate change and ensuring the safety and security of communities in the region.
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 Butterfield Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Verdigre C Nr Verdigre | 206 cfs | → |
| Niobrara River Nr. Verdel | 2,530 cfs | → |
| Elkhorn River At Ewing | 67 cfs | → |
| Bazile Creek At Center | 52 cfs | → |
| Ponca Creek At Verdel | 13 cfs | → |
| Bazile Creek Near Niobrara | 67 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Butterfield Dam.
Track Butterfield 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 Butterfield Dam
Where does the data for Butterfield 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 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 Butterfield Dam.