Sharp Dam dam
Sharp Dam
Sharp Dam, located in Cherry County, Nebraska, serves multiple purposes including fire protection, stock watering, and small fish pond management. Built in 1995, this private earth dam stands at a height of 11.8 feet and has a storage capacity of 106.1 acre-feet, with a normal storage level of 10.1 acre-feet. Situated on Bull Creek, the dam has a drainage area of 42.52 square miles and a surface area of 8.8 acres.
Managed by the Nebraska Department of Natural Resources, Sharp Dam is inspected regularly to ensure its structural integrity and safety. With a low hazard potential and a current condition assessment of "Not Rated", the dam is considered to be in satisfactory condition. While the dam does not have an Emergency Action Plan (EAP) in place, its last inspection in June 2019 found no immediate concerns. The dam's location in a rural area with limited downstream development contributes to its low risk profile.
Overall, Sharp Dam plays a crucial role in providing essential water resources for fire protection and agricultural purposes in the region. With proper maintenance and oversight from state regulators, the dam continues to serve its intended functions while ensuring minimal risk to the surrounding community and environment. For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Sharp Dam stands as a testament to the importance of sustainable water management practices in maintaining the resilience of our infrastructure in the face of changing climate 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 Sharp Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Little White R Near Vetal Sd | 44 cfs | → |
| Little White R Near Rosebud Sd | 133 cfs | → |
| Niobrara River Near Sparks | 641 cfs | → |
| Lake Cr Below Refuge Near Tuthill Sd | 1 cfs | → |
| Keya Paha R Near Keyapaha Sd | 22 cfs | → |
| Lake Cr Above Refuge Near Tuthill Sd | 26 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Sharp Dam.
Boat launches
- Valentine Mill Pond
- Niobrara Canoe Launch
- Berry Bridge Road Cherry County
- Mckelvie National Forest
- Powderhorn
- Main Ramp
Track Sharp 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 Sharp Dam
Where does the data for Sharp 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 Sharp Dam.