Central Midway dam
Central Midway
Central Midway is a significant hydroelectric and irrigation dam located in Cozad, Nebraska. Built in 1941, this earth dam stands at a height of 60 feet and spans 851 feet in length, with a storage capacity of 500 acre-feet and a drainage area of 11 square miles. The dam serves the purpose of providing hydroelectric power and irrigation water to the surrounding area, making it a vital resource for the community.
Managed by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Central Midway is regulated by the Nebraska Department of Natural Resources and undergoes regular inspections to ensure its safety and functionality. With a low hazard potential, the dam poses minimal risk to the area in the event of an emergency. Despite its age, Central Midway continues to play a crucial role in water resource management and climate adaptation efforts in the region.
As a key feature in the local landscape, Central Midway serves as a testament to the engineering achievements of its time and remains a valuable asset for the community. With its dual purpose of hydroelectric power generation and irrigation support, the dam contributes to the sustainable development and resilience of the area, highlighting the importance of water resource management in tackling climate 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 Central Midway -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Spring Creek Nr Overton | 17 cfs | → |
| Platte River Near Overton | 222 cfs | → |
| Buffalo Creek Nr Overton Nebr | 29 cfs | → |
| Platte R Mid Ch | 193 cfs | → |
| Elm Creek Nr Elm Creek | 8 cfs | → |
| Republican River At Cambridge | 60 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Central Midway .
Boat launches
Campgrounds
- Gallagher Canyon State Rec Area - Cozad
- Muny Park
- Lafayette Park
- Lexington City Park
- Potter's Pasture New Campground
- Potter's Pasture Old Campground
Fishing spots
- Maxwell Rest Stop Dor
- Fort Mcpherson Dor
- Fremont Slough
- North Platte I-80 City Lake
- Camp Hayes Lake
- Birdwood Lake
More reservoirs
Track Central Midway 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 Central Midway
Where does the data for Central Midway 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 Central Midway .