Blue Bluffs Dam
Blue Bluffs Dam is a buttress dam located in Seward County, Nebraska, built in 1911. It carries a Low hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
About Blue Bluffs Dam
The primary purpose of Blue Bluffs Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Nebraska Game & Parks Commission (state). It impounds the Big Blue River near Crete.
The dam stands 27 feet tall and stretches 410 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 2 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 209 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 1,300 square miles. Completed in 1911, 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. Its condition is rated fair — the dam has minor deficiencies that are being addressed or do not pose an immediate safety threat. The most recent inspection on record was 05/10/2022.
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Location
| State | Nebraska |
| County | Seward |
| Nearest City | Crete |
| River/Stream | Big Blue River |
| Coordinates | 40.73989, -97.02509 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Buttress |
| NID Height | 27 ft |
| Dam Height | 27 ft |
| Dam Length | 410 ft |
| Year Completed | 1911 (115 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 209 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 209 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 130 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 2 acres |
| Drainage Area | 1,300 sq mi |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Nebraska Game & Parks Commission |
| Owner Type | State |
| Hazard Classification | Low |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 05/10/2022 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Not Required |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NE00262 |
| Federal ID | NE00262 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |