Dickau Dam dam
Dickau Dam
Dickau Dam, located in Niobrara, Nebraska, was completed in 1996 and serves as a vital fish and wildlife pond for the area. This private dam stands at a height of 55 feet, with a length of 259 feet, providing a normal storage capacity of 27 acre-feet. The dam is primarily made of earth and stone core, with a soil foundation, and is regulated by the Nebraska Department of Natural Resources.
Despite its importance for fish and wildlife, Dickau Dam's condition assessment is marked as poor, with a low hazard potential. The last inspection in July 2017 revealed this assessment, with an inspection frequency of 10 years. There are no emergency action plans prepared for the dam, and no inundation maps or risk assessments available at this time. The dam is under the jurisdiction of the state and is located along the TR-Ash Creek, with a maximum discharge capacity of 309 cubic feet per second.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Dickau Dam presents an opportunity to explore the intersection of human infrastructure and environmental conservation. As a key feature in the landscape of Rock County, Nebraska, this dam not only provides essential habitat for local wildlife but also raises questions about the management and maintenance of aging dams in the face of changing climate conditions. The data on Dickau Dam offers a glimpse into the complexities of balancing ecological concerns with the practicalities of infrastructure maintenance, highlighting the importance of sustainable practices in water resource management.
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 Dickau Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Niobrara River At Mariaville | 1,240 cfs | → |
| Long Pine Creek Near Riverview | 181 cfs | → |
| Keya Paha R At Wewela Sd | 52 cfs | → |
| Platte Creek Near Platte | 0 cfs | → |
| Keya Paha R Near Keyapaha Sd | 22 cfs | → |
| Niobrara River Near Sparks | 671 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Dickau Dam.
Track Dickau 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 Dickau Dam
Where does the data for Dickau 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 Dickau Dam.