Bergen Dam dam
Bergen Dam
Bergen Dam, located in McCool Junction, Nebraska, is a crucial structure managed by the local government for flood risk reduction along the TR-W FK BIG BLUE RIVER. Built in 1979 by the USDA NRCS, this earth dam stands at 26 feet high and spans 1,013 feet in length, providing a storage capacity of 610 acre-feet. With a low hazard potential and satisfactory condition assessment as of November 2016, Bergen Dam plays a vital role in safeguarding the surrounding area from potential flooding events.
Managed by the Nebraska Department of Natural Resources, Bergen Dam is subject to state regulation, permitting, inspection, and enforcement to ensure its safety and efficacy in flood risk mitigation. Its primary purpose is flood risk reduction, with a normal storage capacity of 82 acre-feet and a maximum discharge rate of 36 cubic feet per second. With a drainage area of 2.9 square miles, Bergen Dam serves as a critical infrastructure in the region, maintaining a surface area of 19 acres and a structural height of 29 feet.
The dam's design, construction, and operation are overseen by the Natural Resources Conservation Service, with regular inspections scheduled every five years. Despite its low hazard potential, Bergen Dam remains a key asset in the community's resilience against potential flooding events, showcasing the importance of sustainable water resource management and climate adaptation strategies in the face of changing environmental conditions.
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 Bergen Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Platte River Near Grand Island | 1,880 cfs | → |
| Warm Slough Nr Central City | · | → |
| Little Blue River Near Deweese | 54 cfs | → |
| West Fork Big Blue River Nr Dorchester | 177 cfs | → |
| Silver Cr | 10 cfs | → |
| Prairie Creek Nr Silver Creek Nebr | 9 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Bergen Dam.
Boat launches
- Pioneer Trails
- Bruce L. Anderson Recreation Area
- Mormon Island West Sra
- Le Ray Lake
- Smith Creek Recreation Area
- Eagle Scout
Track Bergen 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 Bergen Dam
Where does the data for Bergen 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 Bergen Dam.