Van Cleave Dam
Van Cleave Dam is an earth dam located in Furnas County, Nebraska, built in 1946. It carries a Low hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
About Van Cleave Dam
The primary purpose of Van Cleave 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 Furnas County (private). It impounds the Tr-beaver Creek near Beaver City.
The dam stands 29 feet tall and stretches 453 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 21 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 260 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 4 square miles. Completed in 1946, the structure is well-established, with more than 75 years of service.
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 fair — the dam has minor deficiencies that are being addressed or do not pose an immediate safety threat. The most recent inspection on record was 06/12/2023.
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Location
| State | Nebraska |
| County | Furnas |
| Nearest City | Beaver City |
| River/Stream | Tr-beaver Creek |
| Coordinates | 40.15226, -99.84117 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 29 ft |
| Dam Height | 21 ft |
| Dam Length | 453 ft |
| Year Completed | 1946 (80 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 260 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 260 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 130 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 21 acres |
| Drainage Area | 4 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 2,700 cfs |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | Furnas County |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | Low |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 06/12/2023 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Not Required |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NE00481 |
| Federal ID | NE00481 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |