Nelson Lake Dam
Nelson Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Oliver County, North Dakota, built in 1967. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Nelson Lake Dam
Nelson Lake Dam is a dam in Oliver, North Dakota. The dam is owned by Minnkota Power Coop (public utility). It impounds the Square Butte Creek near N.
The dam stands 66 feet tall and stretches 2,200 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 660 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 20,122 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 146 square miles. Completed in 1967, the structure is well into its service life at over 50 years old.
This dam carries a high hazard potential classification, which means that a failure or uncontrolled release of water would likely cause loss of human life. This classification reflects the consequences of failure, not the likelihood — it indicates that people live or work in the area downstream. Its condition is rated satisfactory, indicating no existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 07/07/2021.
At 66 feet, this dam is taller than 96% of all dams in the United States.
Living Downstream
If you live or work downstream of this dam, consider taking these steps: learn your local evacuation routes, check whether your county emergency management office has a dam failure inundation map, and sign up for local emergency alerts. The North Dakota dam safety program can provide more specific information about emergency planning for this structure.
Search for dams near your address to see all dams in your area with hazard classifications and safety data.
Location
| State | North Dakota |
| County | Oliver |
| Nearest City | N |
| River/Stream | Square Butte Creek |
| Coordinates | 47.06629, -101.20642 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 66 ft |
| Dam Height | 66 ft |
| Dam Length | 2,200 ft |
| Year Completed | 1967 (59 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 20,122 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 20,122 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 10,350 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 660 acres |
| Drainage Area | 146 sq mi |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Other |
| Owner | Minnkota Power Coop |
| Owner Type | Public Utility |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 07/07/2021 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | ND00096 |
| Federal ID | ND00096 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |