WAHOO, Nebraska -- Saunders and Butler Counties were hit with significant rainfall on May 20 and 21 with reports of 4.5 to over 10 inches of rain throughout the Sand, Duck, Cottonwood, Wahoo, Skull and Bone Creek watersheds, with water levels never seen before by local landowners. Lower Platte North Natural Resources District (NRD) staff continue checking dams throughout Saunders and Butler Counties. As many as seven structures assessed show evidence of their auxiliary spillways flowing.

The auxiliary spillway is an earthen portion of the dam that is used to pass additional water beyond designed capacity to keep the structure form overtopping and failing. At this time, the dams observed by Lower Platte North NRD and the USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) did not indicate any overtopping at the time they were surveyed.

Water levels at Lake Wanahoo near Wahoo, Nebraska, reached several feet higher than levels during the March 2019 flooding event, nearly reaching the Highway 77/92 intersection. Many portions of the Lake Wanahoo Recreation Area were under water during a period of time. All trails at Wanahoo are closed until further notice. At Czechland Lake Recreation Area near Prague, Nebraska, the tent camping area was affected, but the water has receded.

Local partners including NRCS and Nebraska Department of Natural Resources' Dam Safety staff continue to monitor conditions and survey damage throughout the area.

Please be patient with staff and agency partners, and abide by closed signs as we manage flood recovery.