Potter Dam
Potter Dam is an earth dam located in Cheyenne County, Nebraska, built in 1955. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Potter Dam
The primary purpose of Potter 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 Village Of Potter (local government). It impounds the Tr-lodgepole Creek near Potter.
The dam stands 24 feet tall and stretches 301 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 1 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 50 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 0 square miles. Completed in 1955, 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. Its condition is rated satisfactory, indicating no existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 09/19/2024.
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 | Cheyenne |
| Nearest City | Potter |
| River/Stream | Tr-lodgepole Creek |
| Coordinates | 41.22083, -103.31308 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 24 ft |
| Dam Height | 24 ft |
| Dam Length | 301 ft |
| Year Completed | 1955 (71 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 50 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 50 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 1 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 1 acres |
| Drainage Area | 0 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 1,892 cfs |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | Village of Potter |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 09/19/2024 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NE02293 |
| Federal ID | NE02293 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |