Miller Grade Stabilization Dam dam
Miller Grade Stabilization Dam
Miller Grade Stabilization Dam, located in Sterling, Nebraska, was completed in 1997 by the USDA NRCS. This private dam stands at 24 feet high and stretches 700 feet in length, serving the primary purpose of flood risk reduction along the TR-N FK BIG NEMAHA RIVER. With a low hazard potential and satisfactory condition assessment, this earth dam with stone core types plays a crucial role in managing water resources in Lancaster County.
Managed by the Nebraska Department of Natural Resources, the Miller Grade Stabilization Dam has a storage capacity of 60 acre-feet and a drainage area of 0.1 square miles. The dam's design, construction, and inspection are overseen by the NRCS, ensuring its effectiveness in mitigating flood risks and protecting the surrounding area. With state jurisdiction, permitting, and enforcement in place, the dam operates within regulatory guidelines to safeguard the local community.
Despite its relatively small surface area of 5 acres, the Miller Grade Stabilization Dam is a vital infrastructure for water resource management and climate resilience in the region. With regular inspections every five years and a history of satisfactory condition assessments, this dam serves as a testament to effective collaboration between private owners, state agencies, and federal designers in safeguarding the local ecosystem and communities from potential flood events.
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 Miller Grade Stabilization Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Salt Creek At Roca | 6 cfs | → |
| Salt Creek At Pioneers Blvd At Lincoln | 11 cfs | → |
| Haines Branch At Sw 56th St. At Lincoln | 2 cfs | → |
| Stevens Creek Nr. Lincoln | 11 cfs | → |
| Turkey Creek Near De Witt | 195 cfs | → |
| Middle Creek At Sw 40th St. At Lincoln | 1 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Miller Grade Stabilization Dam.
Track Miller Grade Stabilization 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 Miller Grade Stabilization Dam
Where does the data for Miller Grade Stabilization 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 Miller Grade Stabilization Dam.