Shell Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Cherry County, Nebraska, built in 1940. It carries a Low hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 14 ft14 ft tall and 80 ft long. 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 Shell Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Shell Lake Dam is fish and wildlife pond. The dam creates habitat for fish and wildlife, supporting local ecosystems and potentially serving conservation goals. The dam is owned by Nebraska Game & Parks Commission (state). It impounds the Dry Creek near Merriman.
The dam stands 14 feet tall and stretches 80 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 158 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 1,271 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 3 square miles. Completed in 1940, 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 poor, meaning the dam has recognized safety deficiencies that require remediation to address risks. The most recent inspection on record was 06/14/2023.
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Location
| State | Nebraska |
| County | Cherry |
| Nearest City | Merriman |
| River/Stream | Dry Creek |
| Coordinates | 42.91548, -102.03487 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 14 ft |
| Dam Height | 9 ft |
| Dam Length | 80 ft |
| Year Completed | 1940 (86 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 1,271 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 1,271 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 587 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 158 acres |
| Drainage Area | 3 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 1,340 cfs |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Fish and Wildlife Pond |
| Owner | Nebraska Game & Parks Commission |
| Owner Type | State |
| Hazard Classification | Low |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 06/14/2023 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Not Required |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NE00388 |
| Federal ID | NE00388 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |