Zahn Dam

Zahn Dam is an earth dam located in Otoe County, Nebraska, built in 1952. It carries a Low hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.

About Zahn Dam

The primary purpose of Zahn 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 Sarah S Krause Trust (private). It impounds the Tr-s Fk Little Nemaha River near Talmage.

The dam stands 32 feet tall and stretches 455 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 2 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 147 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 1 square miles. Completed in 1952, the structure is well into its service life at over 50 years 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 06/15/2021.

At 32 feet, this dam is taller than 76% of dams nationwide.

Search for dams near your address to see all dams in your area with hazard classifications and safety data.

Low HazardPoor ConditionEmergency Action Plan: Not Required

Location

StateNebraska
CountyOtoe
Nearest CityTalmage
River/StreamTr-s Fk Little Nemaha River
Coordinates40.52455, -96.13442

Physical Characteristics

Dam TypeEarth
NID Height32 ft
Dam Height32 ft
Dam Length455 ft
Year Completed1952 (74 years old)

Storage & Hydraulics

NID Storage147 acre-ft
Max Storage147 acre-ft
Normal Storage9 acre-ft
Surface Area2 acres
Drainage Area1 sq mi
Max Discharge730 cfs

Ownership & Safety

PurposeFlood Risk Reduction
OwnerSarah S Krause Trust
Owner TypePrivate
Hazard ClassificationLow
Condition AssessmentPoor
Last Inspection06/15/2021
Emergency Action PlanNot Required

Identifiers

NID IDNE00370
Federal IDNE00370
More InfoState Dam Safety Program

Nearby Dams