Zysset Dam dam
Zysset Dam
Zysset Dam, located in Frontier County, Nebraska, is a privately owned structure designed by the USDA NRCS for flood risk reduction along the TR-Medicine Creek. Completed in 1974, this earth dam stands at a height of 22 feet with a hydraulic height of 20 feet and a structural height of 24 feet. With a length of 488 feet and a storage capacity of 139 acre-feet, Zysset Dam plays a crucial role in mitigating flood risks in the region.
Managed by the Nebraska Department of Natural Resources, Zysset Dam has a low hazard potential and is deemed to be in satisfactory condition as of the last inspection in April 2019. The dam has a normal storage capacity of 42 acre-feet and a maximum discharge rate of 861 cubic feet per second. While there are no associated locks or spillways, the dam serves its primary purpose effectively and undergoes inspection every five years to ensure its continued safety and functionality.
As a significant component of the flood risk reduction infrastructure in the area, Zysset Dam contributes to the protection of surrounding communities and agricultural lands from potential inundation. With its efficient design and satisfactory condition, this earth dam stands as a testament to the importance of proactive water resource management in the face of changing climate patterns. For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Zysset Dam serves as a prime example of effective infrastructure for mitigating flood risks in vulnerable areas.
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 Zysset Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Republican River At Cambridge | 60 cfs | → |
| Red Willow Creek Near Red Willow | 3 cfs | → |
| Republican River At Mccook Nebr | 28 cfs | → |
| Driftwood Creek Near Mc Cook | 0 cfs | → |
| Beaver Creek Near Beaver City | 1 cfs | → |
| Frenchman Creek At Culbertson | 24 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Zysset Dam.
Boat launches
Campgrounds
- Holbrook City Park
- Buffalo Roam Campground
- Willow View Campground
- Kiwanis Point Campground
- Red Willow Reservoir State Rec Area
- Gallagher Canyon State Rec Area - Cozad
Track Zysset 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 Zysset Dam
Where does the data for Zysset 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 Zysset Dam.