Nelson Dam
Nelson Dam is an earth dam located in Clark County, South Dakota, built in 1947. It carries a Low hazard potential classification.
About Nelson Dam
The primary purpose of Nelson Dam is fire protection, stock, or small fish pond. The dam maintains a small impoundment used for fire suppression, livestock watering, or as a fish pond. The dam is owned by Norman & Fergus Nelson (private). It impounds the Pearl Creek.
The dam stands 17 feet tall and stretches 564 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 16 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 281 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 16 square miles. Completed in 1947, 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.
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Location
| State | South Dakota |
| County | Clark |
| River/Stream | Pearl Creek |
| Coordinates | 44.58048, -97.85231 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 17 ft |
| Dam Height | 17 ft |
| Dam Length | 564 ft |
| Year Completed | 1947 (79 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 281 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 281 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 69 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 16 acres |
| Drainage Area | 16 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 2,700 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Fire Protection, Stock, Or Small Fish Pond |
| Owner | Norman & Fergus Nelson |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | Low |
| Emergency Action Plan | Not Required |
Identifiers
| NID ID | SD02676 |
| Federal ID | SD02676 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |