Burchard Lake Dam
Burchard Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Pawnee County, Nebraska, built in 1959. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Burchard Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Burchard Lake Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Nebraska Game & Parks Commission (state). It impounds the Tr-turkey Creek near Pawnee City.
The dam stands 52 feet tall and stretches 1,065 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 144 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 2,958 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 3 square miles. Completed in 1959, the structure is well into its service life at over 50 years old.
This dam has a significant hazard potential classification, meaning that a failure could cause significant economic damage — flooding roads, bridges, or property downstream — but is not expected to result in loss of life. Its condition is rated satisfactory, indicating no existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. The most recent inspection on record was 11/09/2021.
At 52 feet, this dam is taller than 93% of dams nationwide.
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Location
| State | Nebraska |
| County | Pawnee |
| Nearest City | Pawnee City |
| River/Stream | Tr-turkey Creek |
| Coordinates | 40.16504, -96.29817 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 52 ft |
| Dam Height | 45 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,065 ft |
| Year Completed | 1959 (67 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 2,958 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 2,958 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 1,796 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 144 acres |
| Drainage Area | 3 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 2,255 cfs |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Nebraska Game & Parks Commission |
| Owner Type | State |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 11/09/2021 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Not Required |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NE00760 |
| Federal ID | NE00760 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |