Frisbie Dam dam
Frisbie Dam
Located in Kearney, Nebraska, the Frisbie Dam stands as a vital structure for fire protection, stock, and small fish pond purposes. Built in 1960, this earth dam with a stone core type has a height of 13.4 feet and a storage capacity of 74.9 acre-feet. Despite its low hazard potential, the dam's condition assessment has been marked as poor, indicating a need for maintenance and potential repairs to ensure its continued functionality.
Managed by a private owner, the Frisbie Dam is regulated by the Nebraska Department of Natural Resources, with state permitting, inspection, and enforcement in place. The dam is situated on TR-Sand Creek and falls under the jurisdiction of the Omaha District of the US Army Corps of Engineers. Despite its current condition, the dam plays a crucial role in water resource management and ecological conservation in the region.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, the Frisbie Dam serves as a focal point for understanding the intersection of infrastructure, environmental stewardship, and community safety. With its historical significance and ongoing regulatory oversight, this dam represents a microcosm of the challenges and opportunities faced in managing water resources in a changing climate. As efforts are made to address its condition assessment and maintenance needs, the Frisbie Dam underscores the importance of proactive management and investment in sustaining critical water infrastructure for future generations.
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 Frisbie Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Platte River Near Kearney | 21 cfs | → |
| Republican River At Guide Rock | 2 cfs | → |
| Little Blue River Near Deweese | 34 cfs | → |
| Courtland Canal At Nebraska-Kansas State Line | 31 cfs | → |
| Platte R Mid Ch | 79 cfs | → |
| White Rock C Nr Burr Oak | 1 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Frisbie Dam.
Boat launches
- Fort Kearny Sra #7
- Bassway Strip Wma
- Liberty Cove Recreation Area
- War Axe Sra
- Lake Hastings
- Bufflehead Wma
Track Frisbie 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 Frisbie Dam
Where does the data for Frisbie 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 Frisbie Dam.