Trenton Dam
Trenton Dam is an earth dam located in Hitchcock County, Nebraska, built in 1953. It carries a High hazard potential classification.
About Trenton Dam
The primary purpose of Trenton Dam is irrigation. The dam stores and diverts water for agricultural irrigation, supporting farming operations in the surrounding area. The dam is owned by Bureau Of Reclamation (federal). It impounds the Republican River near Trenton.
The dam stands 144 feet tall and stretches 8,600 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 7,940 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 352,018 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 8,620 square miles. Completed in 1953, 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. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 07/07/2021.
At 144 feet, this dam is taller than 99% 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 | Hitchcock |
| Nearest City | Trenton |
| River/Stream | Republican River |
| Coordinates | 40.16140, -101.06310 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 144 ft |
| Dam Height | 100 ft |
| Dam Length | 8,600 ft |
| Year Completed | 1953 (73 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 352,018 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 352,018 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 112,214 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 7,940 acres |
| Drainage Area | 8,620 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 126,000 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Controlled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Irrigation |
| Owner | BUREAU OF RECLAMATION |
| Owner Type | Federal |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Not Available |
| Last Inspection | 07/07/2021 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NE01078 |
| Federal ID | NE01078 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |