Nelson Dam
Nelson Dam is an earth dam located in Meade County, South Dakota, built in 2001. It carries a Low hazard potential classification.
About Nelson Dam
The primary purpose of Nelson Dam is fish and wildlife pond. The dam creates habitat for fish and wildlife, supporting local ecosystems and potentially serving conservation goals. The dam is owned by James S. Nelson (private). It impounds the Dry Creek.
The dam stands 34 feet tall and stretches 530 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 15 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 255 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 12 square miles. Completed in 2001, the structure is relatively new.
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. The most recent inspection on record was 04/16/2002. That was over 23 years ago.
At 34 feet, this dam is taller than 80% of dams nationwide.
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Location
| State | South Dakota |
| County | Meade |
| River/Stream | Dry Creek |
| Coordinates | 44.36999, -102.87169 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 34 ft |
| Dam Height | 34 ft |
| Dam Length | 530 ft |
| Year Completed | 2001 (25 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 255 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 255 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 155 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 15 acres |
| Drainage Area | 12 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 4,720 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Fish and Wildlife Pond |
| Owner | JAMES S. NELSON |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | Low |
| Last Inspection | 04/16/2002 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Not Required |
Identifiers
| NID ID | SD02488 |
| Federal ID | SD02488 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |