Nelson Dam is an earth dam located in Clay County, Iowa, built in 1999. It carries a Low hazard potential classification.
Dam profile
NID height · 26 ft26 ft tall and 314 ft long, taller than 55% of U.S. dams with a recorded height. Height is drawn to scale against a two-story house, about 25 ft; the profile is a generic embankment section and the water level is illustrative.
About Nelson Dam
The primary purpose of Nelson Dam is grade stabilization. Grade stabilization dams prevent erosion by reducing the slope and velocity of water flowing through a channel. They're commonly used to stop gullies from deepening and to protect downstream land and infrastructure. The dam is owned by David Nelson (private). It impounds the Tr-elk Creek near Gillett Grove.
The dam stands 26 feet tall and stretches 314 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 3 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 37 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 0 square miles. Completed in 1999, the structure is 27 years 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.
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Location
| State | Iowa |
| County | Clay |
| Nearest City | Gillett Grove |
| River/Stream | Tr-elk Creek |
| Coordinates | 43.05110, -94.99560 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 26 ft |
| Dam Height | 26 ft |
| Dam Length | 314 ft |
| Year Completed | 1999 (27 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 37 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 37 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 17 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 3 acres |
| Drainage Area | 0 sq mi |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Grade Stabilization |
| Owner | David Nelson |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | Low |
| Condition Assessment | Not assessed |
| Emergency Action Plan | Not Required |
Identifiers
| NID ID | IA03921 |
| Federal ID | IA03921 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |