Bish Dam dam
Bish Dam
Bish Dam, located in Hamilton County, Nebraska, is a privately owned structure designed by the USDA NRCS and regulated by the Nebraska Department of Natural Resources. Completed in 1971, this earth dam stands at a height of 23 feet and has a hydraulic height of 22 feet, providing flood risk reduction for the TR-W FK BIG BLUE RIVER. With a storage capacity of 177 acre-feet and a drainage area of 0.8 square miles, Bish Dam plays a crucial role in managing water resources in the region.
Despite its low hazard potential and satisfactory condition assessment, Bish Dam is subject to regular inspections every 5 years to ensure its safety and functionality. With a maximum discharge capacity of 256 cubic feet per second, this dam serves as a vital infrastructure for water management in the area. The surrounding area covers 10 acres, offering additional benefits such as recreational opportunities and wildlife habitat enhancement. Overall, Bish Dam stands as a testament to effective water resource management and climate resilience efforts in Nebraska.
Managed by the Natural Resources Conservation Service, Bish Dam serves multiple purposes beyond flood risk reduction, contributing to the overall water management strategies in the region. As a key component of the local water infrastructure, this dam showcases the importance of collaboration between private owners, regulatory agencies, and design professionals in ensuring the sustainability and safety of water resources in Nebraska. With its strategic location and efficient design, Bish Dam continues to play a critical role in safeguarding communities and ecosystems against the impacts of changing climate patterns.
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 Bish Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Platte River Near Grand Island | 109 cfs | → |
| Warm Slough Nr Central City | · | → |
| Little Blue River Near Deweese | 98 cfs | → |
| South Loup R At St. Michael | 291 cfs | → |
| Middle Loup R. At St. Paul | 755 cfs | → |
| North Loup River Nr St Paul Nebr | 712 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Bish Dam.
Track Bish 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 Bish Dam
Where does the data for Bish 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 Bish Dam.