Palmer Dam 3481 dam
Palmer Dam 3481
Palmer Dam 3481, located in Wilsonville, Nebraska, serves as a crucial flood risk reduction structure along the TR-BEAVER CREEK. Built in 1960, this private earth dam stands at a height of 16 feet and stretches 235 feet in length, with a storage capacity of 99.4 acre-feet. The dam's primary purpose is flood risk reduction, and it is regulated by the Nebraska Department of Natural Resources, ensuring regular inspections, permitting, and enforcement to maintain its integrity.
Despite its low hazard potential and not having a current condition rating, Palmer Dam 3481 remains an essential component in protecting the surrounding Furnas County community from potential flooding events. With a drainage area of 3.49 square miles and a normal storage capacity of 74.6 acre-feet, the dam plays a crucial role in managing water levels and mitigating flood risks in the region. The dam's strategic location and design demonstrate a commitment to safeguarding the area's water resources and infrastructure from the impacts of extreme weather events.
As a key flood risk reduction structure in Nebraska, Palmer Dam 3481 stands as a testament to the importance of proactive water resource management in the face of changing climate patterns. With its history of successful operation and state regulation, the dam exemplifies the collaboration between private owners and government agencies in ensuring the safety and resilience of communities against the threats posed by flooding. The dam's presence not only serves as a physical barrier to excess water but also symbolizes a shared commitment to sustainable water resource management 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 Palmer Dam 3481 -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Republican River At Cambridge | 60 cfs | → |
| Sappa C Nr Lyle | 3 cfs | → |
| Beaver Creek Near Beaver City | 1 cfs | → |
| Red Willow Creek Near Red Willow | 3 cfs | → |
| Beaver C At Cedar Bluffs | · | → |
| Prairie Dog C Ab Keith Sebelius Lake | 2 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Palmer Dam 3481.
Campgrounds
- Holbrook City Park
- West Side Park - Beaver City
- Karrer Park
- Prairie Dog State Park
- Keith Sebelius Lake Ra
- Sappa Park
Fishing spots
- Keith Sebelius (Norton)
- Atwood Lake
- Camp Hayes Lake
- Graham County - Antelope Lake
- Sheridan State Fishing Lake
More reservoirs
Track Palmer Dam 3481 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 Palmer Dam 3481
Where does the data for Palmer Dam 3481 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 Palmer Dam 3481.