Ericson Dam
Ericson Dam is an earth dam located in Wheeler County, Nebraska, built in 1916. It carries a Low hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
About Ericson Dam
The primary purpose of Ericson Dam is flood risk reduction. The dam is designed to control downstream flooding by temporarily storing excess water during storms and releasing it at a controlled rate. The dam is owned by Ericson Lake Corporation (private). It impounds the Cedar River near Spalding.
The dam stands 33 feet tall and stretches 1,600 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 123 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 625 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 185 square miles. Completed in 1916, the structure is over a century old.
This dam has a low hazard potential classification, meaning that failure would cause minimal damage, limited primarily to the dam owner's property, with no expected loss of life. Its condition is rated poor, meaning the dam has recognized safety deficiencies that require remediation to address risks. The most recent inspection on record was 04/06/2023.
At 33 feet, this dam is taller than 78% of dams nationwide.
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Location
| State | Nebraska |
| County | Wheeler |
| Nearest City | Spalding |
| River/Stream | Cedar River |
| Coordinates | 41.75842, -98.65289 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 33 ft |
| Dam Height | 25 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,600 ft |
| Year Completed | 1916 (110 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 625 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 625 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 448 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 123 acres |
| Drainage Area | 185 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 3,952 cfs |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | Ericson Lake Corporation |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | Low |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 04/06/2023 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Not Required |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NE00274 |
| Federal ID | NE00274 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |