Holmesville Power Plant Dam dam
Holmesville Power Plant Dam
Located in Gage County, Nebraska, the Holmesville Power Plant Dam is a privately owned structure that serves as a hydroelectric facility along the Big Blue River. Built in 1910, this buttress dam stands at a height of 22 feet and spans 280 feet in length, with a storage capacity of 409 acre-feet. The dam plays a crucial role in harnessing the river's flow to generate power, contributing to the region's energy needs while also providing recreational opportunities in the surrounding area.
Managed by the Nebraska Department of Natural Resources, the Holmesville Power Plant Dam is subject to state regulations, inspections, and enforcement to ensure its safe operation and maintenance. With a low hazard potential and a satisfactory condition assessment as of April 2020, the dam continues to fulfill its primary purpose of hydroelectric power generation without posing significant risks to the local community. As a key feature along the Big Blue River, the dam highlights the intersection of water resource management, climate resilience, and renewable energy production in the heart of Nebraska's natural landscape.
The Holmesville Power Plant Dam stands as a testament to the enduring legacy of hydroelectric infrastructure in Nebraska, blending historic architecture with modern energy technologies. As climate enthusiasts and water resource advocates, the dam represents a tangible example of sustainable development that balances the need for clean power generation with environmental stewardship. With its strategic location, efficient design, and state oversight, the Holmesville Power Plant Dam continues to play a vital role in shaping the region's energy landscape while preserving the natural beauty of the Big Blue River ecosystem.
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 Holmesville Power Plant Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Big Blue R At Barneston Nebr | 408 cfs | → |
| Turkey Creek Near De Witt | 19 cfs | → |
| Little Blue R At Hollenberg | 162 cfs | → |
| Big Blue R At Marysville | 272 cfs | → |
| Little Blue River Near Fairbury | 1,310 cfs | → |
| L Blue R Nr Barnes | 423 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Holmesville Power Plant Dam.
Boat launches
- Rockford Lake Sra
- Bear Pierce Lake 2a
- Wolf - Wildcat
- Big Indian Recreation Area
- Arrowhead Wma
- Diamond Lake Wma
Track Holmesville Power Plant 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 Holmesville Power Plant Dam
Where does the data for Holmesville Power Plant 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 Holmesville Power Plant Dam.