Serr Dam dam
Serr Dam
Serr Dam in Keya Paha, Nebraska, is a privately owned earth dam designed by the USDA NRCS and completed in 1978 for irrigation purposes. The dam stands at a height of 27 feet and has a storage capacity of 70 acre-feet, providing water for agricultural activities in the region. Located on TR-SPRING CREEK, the dam has a low hazard potential and is in satisfactory condition, as per the last inspection conducted in March 2016 by the NE DNR.
Managed by the St. Paul District of the USACE, Serr Dam plays a crucial role in water resource management in the area, with a drainage area of 2.1 square miles and a maximum discharge capacity of 116 cubic feet per second. The dam's primary purpose of irrigation benefits the local community by supporting agricultural production and ensuring water availability for crop cultivation. Despite its age, Serr Dam continues to be regulated, inspected, and enforced by state authorities to maintain its structural integrity and operational efficiency, highlighting its importance in the sustainable utilization of water resources for climate-resilient agriculture.
With its location within the scenic landscape of Mills, Nebraska, Serr Dam stands as a testament to the collaborative efforts of federal and state agencies in constructing and managing essential water infrastructure. As a key component of the local water supply system, the dam contributes to the economic prosperity and environmental sustainability of the region by facilitating irrigation activities and enhancing water security for farmers. This exemplifies the critical role of dams like Serr Dam in effectively harnessing and managing water resources to address the challenges posed by climate change and ensure a resilient future for agricultural communities.
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 Serr Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Niobrara River At Mariaville | 1,700 cfs | → |
| Long Pine Creek Near Riverview | 157 cfs | → |
| Keya Paha R At Wewela Sd | 57 cfs | → |
| Keya Paha R Near Keyapaha Sd | 24 cfs | → |
| Platte Creek Near Platte | 0 cfs | → |
| Niobrara River Near Sparks | 631 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Serr Dam.
Track Serr 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 Serr Dam
Where does the data for Serr 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 Serr Dam.