Scott Ahrens Dam dam
Scott Ahrens Dam
Scott Ahrens Dam, located in Nuckolls, Nebraska, along the TR-Little Blue River, was completed in 1998 by the USDA NRCS with a primary purpose of flood risk reduction. This privately-owned Earth-type dam stands at 21 feet high and has a hydraulic height of 20 feet. With a storage capacity of 230 acre-feet and a drainage area of 1.3 square miles, the dam plays a crucial role in managing water flow and mitigating flood risk in the region.
Managed by the NE DNR and regulated by the state, Scott Ahrens Dam has a significant hazard potential but is currently in satisfactory condition. The dam's last inspection in April 2020 revealed no major issues, with an inspection frequency of 3 years. With a structural height of 23 feet and a length of 593 feet, the dam continues to serve its purpose effectively, providing essential flood protection and water resource management for the local community.
As a key infrastructure within the Omaha District, Scott Ahrens Dam is a vital component of the region's water resource and climate resilience efforts. With a maximum discharge capacity of 105 cubic feet per second and a surface area of 8 acres, the dam plays a crucial role in safeguarding the surrounding area from potential flooding events. As climate change poses increasing challenges to water management, the importance of structures like Scott Ahrens Dam in protecting communities and ecosystems from extreme weather events cannot be understated.
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 Scott Ahrens Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Little Blue River Near Deweese | 34 cfs | → |
| Republican R Nr Hardy | 25 cfs | → |
| Courtland Canal At Nebraska-Kansas State Line | 31 cfs | → |
| Republican River At Guide Rock | 2 cfs | → |
| White Rock C Nr Burr Oak | 1 cfs | → |
| Republican R At Scandia | 35 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Scott Ahrens Dam.
Fishing spots
Track Scott Ahrens 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 Scott Ahrens Dam
Where does the data for Scott Ahrens 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 Significant 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 Scott Ahrens Dam.