Adamson Dam dam
Adamson Dam
Adamson Dam, located in Cherry County, Nebraska, is a privately owned structure designed by the USDA NRCS for flood risk reduction along the Diamond Bar Drainage Ditch. Completed in 1965, this earth dam stands at 14 feet high with a length of 290 feet, providing a storage capacity of 1318 acre-feet and serving a drainage area of 7.4 square miles. Despite its low hazard potential, the dam's condition assessment in 2018 rated it as poor, highlighting the need for maintenance and improvement measures.
Managed by the Nebraska Department of Natural Resources, Adamson Dam is subject to state regulation, inspection, and enforcement. The primary purpose of the dam is flood risk reduction, aligning with its construction and design as an earth dam with stone core and soil foundation. Although the dam has not been modified in recent years, its location in the Omaha District and association with the Natural Resources Conservation Service indicate ongoing oversight and monitoring to ensure its structural integrity and functionality. With a normal storage capacity of 935 acre-feet and a maximum discharge of 131 cubic feet per second, Adamson Dam plays a crucial role in mitigating flood risks in the region.
Despite its essential role in flood risk management, Adamson Dam faces challenges in maintaining its condition and operational effectiveness. With a poor condition assessment in 2018 and a low hazard potential, the dam requires attention to address potential safety risks and ensure its continued functionality. Regular inspections and maintenance activities, along with potential rehabilitation efforts, will be crucial in enhancing the resilience of Adamson Dam and safeguarding the surrounding community from flood hazards. As water resource and climate enthusiasts, understanding the importance of infrastructure like Adamson Dam in protecting lives and property underscores the need for proactive management and investment in sustainable water management practices.
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 Adamson Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Little White R Near Vetal Sd | 40 cfs | → |
| Lake Cr Above Refuge Near Tuthill Sd | 26 cfs | → |
| Lake Cr Below Refuge Near Tuthill Sd | 0 cfs | → |
| Little White R Near Martin Sd | 14 cfs | → |
| Niobrara River Near Sparks | 631 cfs | → |
| Little White R Near Rosebud Sd | 133 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Adamson Dam.
Boat launches
Campgrounds
Track Adamson 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 Adamson Dam
Where does the data for Adamson 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 Adamson Dam.