Bellett is an earth dam located in Nevada County, California, built in 1950. It carries a Low hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 54 ft54 ft tall and 312 ft long, taller than 94% of U.S. dams with a recorded height. Height is drawn to scale against a ten-story building, about 100 ft; the profile is a generic embankment section and the water level is illustrative.
About Bellett
Bellett is a dam in Nevada, California. The dam is owned by Mr. William D. Sippl (private). It impounds the Tr Shady Creek.
The dam stands 54 feet tall and stretches 312 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 5 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 90 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 1 square miles. Completed in 1950, 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. Its condition is rated satisfactory, indicating no existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. The most recent inspection on record was 04/16/2025.
At 54 feet, this dam is taller than 94% of dams nationwide.
Search for dams near your address to see all dams in your area with hazard classifications and safety data.
Location
| State | California |
| County | Nevada |
| River/Stream | Tr Shady Creek |
| Coordinates | 39.36590, -121.04220 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 54 ft |
| Dam Height | 54 ft |
| Dam Length | 312 ft |
| Year Completed | 1950 (76 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 90 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 90 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 5 acres |
| Drainage Area | 1 sq mi |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Other |
| Owner | Mr. William D. Sippl |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | Low |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 04/16/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | No |
Identifiers
| NID ID | CA00542 |
| Federal ID | CA00542 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |