Sachs-Palmer Dam dam
Sachs-Palmer Dam
Sachs-Palmer Dam, located in Rural Elkhorn, Nebraska, along the TR-N BR W Papio Creek, was completed in 2002 by Norm Koester Engineering. This earth dam stands at a height of 30 feet, with a structural height of 40 feet, and a length of 787 feet, providing flood risk reduction for the surrounding area. The dam has a storage capacity of 352 acre-feet, with a normal storage level of 87 acre-feet and a maximum discharge rate of 5055 cubic feet per second.
Managed by the local government and regulated by the Nebraska Department of Natural Resources, Sachs-Palmer Dam is classified as having a high hazard potential but is currently rated as satisfactory in its condition assessment. The dam is inspected annually, with the last inspection conducted in April 2020. While no spillway type or width is specified, the dam serves a critical purpose in mitigating flood risks and protecting the area from potential water-related disasters. The dam's location and design make it a vital piece of infrastructure in water resource management for the region.
With its strategic positioning and design, Sachs-Palmer Dam plays a crucial role in safeguarding the Douglas County area in Nebraska. As a key piece of infrastructure for flood risk reduction, the dam exemplifies the importance of sustainable water resource management and climate resilience in the face of increasing environmental challenges. As water resource and climate enthusiasts, understanding the intricacies of dams like Sachs-Palmer is essential for promoting sustainable practices and protecting our communities from the impacts 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 Sachs-Palmer Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Elkhorn River At Waterloo | 1,700 cfs | → |
| Big Papillion Cr | 76 cfs | → |
| Platte River Nr Leshara | 2,960 cfs | → |
| Missouri River At Omaha | 34,600 cfs | → |
| Platte R Nr Ashland | 4,980 cfs | → |
| Wahoo Creek At Ithaca | 126 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Sachs-Palmer Dam.
Boat launches
- North 242nd Street Douglas County
- Prairie View Recreation Area
- Elkhorn Crossing Recreation
- Waterloo River Access
- Main Boat Ramp
- Graske Crossing Boat Ramp
Track Sachs-Palmer 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 Sachs-Palmer Dam
Where does the data for Sachs-Palmer 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 High 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 Sachs-Palmer Dam.