Dorchester 4-a is an earth dam located in Saline County, Nebraska, built in 1969. It carries a Low hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 34 ft34 ft tall and 632 ft long, taller than 78% 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 Dorchester 4-a
The primary purpose of Dorchester 4-a is flood risk reduction. The dam is designed to control downstream flooding by temporarily storing excess water during storms and releasing it at a controlled rate. The dam is owned by Upper Big Blue Natural Resources District (local government). It impounds the Tr-w Fk Big Blue River near Crete.
The dam stands 34 feet tall and stretches 632 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 12 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 368 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 1 square miles. Completed in 1969, the structure is well into its service life at over 50 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. Its condition is rated satisfactory, indicating no existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. The most recent inspection on record was 04/04/2019.
At 34 feet, this dam is taller than 78% of dams nationwide.
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Location
| State | Nebraska |
| County | Saline |
| Nearest City | Crete |
| River/Stream | Tr-w Fk Big Blue River |
| Coordinates | 40.67310, -97.07979 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 34 ft |
| Dam Height | 30 ft |
| Dam Length | 632 ft |
| Year Completed | 1969 (57 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 368 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 368 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 67 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 12 acres |
| Drainage Area | 1 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 656 cfs |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | Upper Big Blue Natural Resources District |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | Low |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 04/04/2019 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Not Required |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NE00041 |
| Federal ID | NE00041 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |