Broken Box Dam dam
Broken Box Dam
Broken Box Dam, located in Cherry County, Nebraska, along the Medicine Creek, was completed in 1980 with a primary purpose of flood risk reduction. This privately-owned earth dam stands at a height of 41.4 feet and has a storage capacity of 1037 acre-feet, providing essential water resource management for the region. With a low hazard potential and a condition assessment yet to be rated, the dam plays a crucial role in regulating the 7.81 square miles of drainage area it serves.
Despite its modest size, Broken Box Dam covers a surface area of 32.6 acres and can discharge up to 7548 cubic feet per second in times of excess water flow. The dam's stone core and soil foundation contribute to its structural integrity, ensuring its ability to withstand hydraulic pressures. While the dam has not been inspected since June 2019, its operational and regulatory compliance is overseen by the Nebraska Department of Natural Resources, indicating a commitment to maintaining safety standards and environmental protection in the area.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Broken Box Dam represents a vital piece of infrastructure in the region's water management system. As climate change continues to impact precipitation patterns and water availability, the importance of well-maintained dams like Broken Box in mitigating flood risks and ensuring sustainable water usage becomes increasingly evident. With its strategic location on the Medicine Creek and its role in regulating the local ecosystem, this dam serves as a noteworthy example of the intersection between water resource management, climate resilience, and infrastructure development.
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 Broken Box Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Little White R Near Vetal Sd | 44 cfs | → |
| Lake Cr Above Refuge Near Tuthill Sd | 26 cfs | → |
| Lake Cr Below Refuge Near Tuthill Sd | 1 cfs | → |
| Little White R Near Martin Sd | 13 cfs | → |
| Little White R Near Rosebud Sd | 133 cfs | → |
| Niobrara River Near Sparks | 641 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Broken Box Dam.
Boat launches
Campgrounds
More reservoirs
Track Broken Box 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 Broken Box Dam
Where does the data for Broken Box 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 Broken Box Dam.