Nelson Dam 605 is an earth dam located in Cheyenne County, Nebraska, built in 1967. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 39 ft39 ft tall and 500 ft long, taller than 85% 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 605
The primary purpose of Nelson Dam 605 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 Draj LLC (private). It impounds the Tr-lodgepole Creek near Sidney.
The dam stands 39 feet tall and stretches 500 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 11 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 593 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 6 square miles. Completed in 1967, the structure is well into its service life at over 50 years old.
This dam has a significant hazard potential classification, meaning that a failure could cause significant economic damage — flooding roads, bridges, or property downstream — but is not expected to result in 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 04/27/2021.
At 39 feet, this dam is taller than 85% of dams nationwide.
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Location
| State | Nebraska |
| County | Cheyenne |
| Nearest City | Sidney |
| River/Stream | Tr-lodgepole Creek |
| Coordinates | 41.22701, -103.18721 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 39 ft |
| Dam Height | 34 ft |
| Dam Length | 500 ft |
| Year Completed | 1967 (59 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 593 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 593 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 32 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 11 acres |
| Drainage Area | 6 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 3,032 cfs |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | Draj LLC |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 04/27/2021 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Not Required |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NE00605 |
| Federal ID | NE00605 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |