Ormesher Dam dam
Ormesher Dam
Ormesher Dam, located in Dawes, Nebraska, is a privately owned earth dam completed in 1961 for fire protection, livestock, and small fish pond purposes. With a height of 18 feet and a length of 408 feet, this dam has a capacity of 127 acre-feet and a surface area of 11.5 acres, serving as a crucial water resource for the surrounding area. Situated on Alkali Creek, the dam is regulated and inspected by the Nebraska Department of Natural Resources to ensure its structural integrity and safety.
Despite being classified as having a low hazard potential, Ormesher Dam is currently in poor condition, prompting attention to its maintenance and rehabilitation. The last inspection in 2016 raised concerns about its structural stability, highlighting the need for a comprehensive assessment and potential risk management measures. With a frequency of inspections every five years, it is essential for stakeholders to address the dam's deteriorating condition and ensure it meets regulatory guidelines to prevent any potential emergencies or hazards.
As a vital infrastructure for water storage and management, Ormesher Dam plays a significant role in the local ecosystem and community. With its historical significance dating back to the early 1960s, efforts to address its poor condition and implement necessary upgrades are crucial to safeguarding its functionality and ensuring a sustainable water supply for the future. Climate and water resource enthusiasts can follow developments related to Ormesher Dam to stay informed about its condition and the potential measures being taken to address its current challenges.
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 Ormesher Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| White R Nr Ne-Sd State Line | 3 cfs | → |
| White R Near Oglala Sd | 101 cfs | → |
| Horsehead Cr At Oelrichs Sd | · | → |
| Cheyenne R Below Angostura Dam Sd | 1 cfs | → |
| Cheyenne R Near Buffalo Gap Sd | 56 cfs | → |
| Hat Cr Near Edgemont Sd | 0 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Ormesher Dam.
Campgrounds
Track Ormesher 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 Ormesher Dam
Where does the data for Ormesher 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 Ormesher Dam.