Beaver Lake Dam
Beaver Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Cass County, Nebraska, built in 1973. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
About Beaver Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Beaver Lake Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Beaver Lake Association (private). It impounds the Rock Creek near Rural Rock Bluff.
The dam stands 108 feet tall and stretches 1,150 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 306 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 12,760 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 11 square miles. Completed in 1973, the structure is well into its service life at over 50 years old.
This dam carries a high hazard potential classification, which means that a failure or uncontrolled release of water would likely cause loss of human life. This classification reflects the consequences of failure, not the likelihood — it indicates that people live or work in the area downstream. Its condition is rated poor, meaning the dam has recognized safety deficiencies that require remediation to address risks. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 07/16/2024.
At 108 feet, this dam is taller than 98% of all dams in the United States.
Living Downstream
If you live or work downstream of this dam, consider taking these steps: learn your local evacuation routes, check whether your county emergency management office has a dam failure inundation map, and sign up for local emergency alerts. The Nebraska dam safety program can provide more specific information about emergency planning for this structure.
Search for dams near your address to see all dams in your area with hazard classifications and safety data.
Location
| State | Nebraska |
| County | Cass |
| Nearest City | Rural Rock Bluff |
| River/Stream | Rock Creek |
| Coordinates | 40.92278, -95.86997 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 108 ft |
| Dam Height | 96 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,150 ft |
| Year Completed | 1973 (53 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 12,760 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 12,760 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 8,534 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 306 acres |
| Drainage Area | 11 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 120 cfs |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Beaver Lake Association |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 07/16/2024 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NE00102 |
| Federal ID | NE00102 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |