Nelson
Nelson is an earth dam located in Apache County, Arizona, built in 1890. It carries a Low hazard potential classification.
About Nelson
The primary purpose of Nelson is irrigation. The dam stores and diverts water for agricultural irrigation, supporting farming operations in the surrounding area. The dam is owned by Arizona Game & Fish Department (state). It impounds the Nutrioso Creek near Springerville.
The dam stands 34 feet tall and stretches 335 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 101 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 900 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 81 square miles. Completed in 1890, the structure is over a century old.
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 05/14/2020.
At 34 feet, this dam is taller than 80% of dams nationwide.
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Location
| State | Arizona |
| County | Apache |
| Nearest City | Springerville |
| River/Stream | Nutrioso Creek |
| Coordinates | 34.05972, -109.19444 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 34 ft |
| Dam Height | 34 ft |
| Dam Length | 335 ft |
| Year Completed | 1890 (136 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 900 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 900 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 770 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 101 acres |
| Drainage Area | 81 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 2,200 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Irrigation |
| Owner | ARIZONA GAME & FISH DEPARTMENT |
| Owner Type | State |
| Hazard Classification | Low |
| Condition Assessment | Not Rated |
| Last Inspection | 05/14/2020 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Not Required |
Identifiers
| NID ID | AZ00008 |
| Federal ID | AZ00008 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |