Oliver Dam
Oliver Dam is an earth dam located in Kimball County, Nebraska, built in 1910. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Oliver Dam
The primary purpose of Oliver Dam is irrigation. The dam stores and diverts water for agricultural irrigation, supporting farming operations in the surrounding area. The dam is owned by South Platte Natural Resources District (local government). It impounds the Lodgepole Creek near Kimball.
The dam stands 48 feet tall and stretches 5,800 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 264 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 8,428 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 1,203 square miles. Completed in 1910, the structure is over a century 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 09/19/2024.
At 48 feet, this dam is taller than 92% of dams nationwide.
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 Nebraska 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 | Nebraska |
| County | Kimball |
| Nearest City | Kimball |
| River/Stream | Lodgepole Creek |
| Coordinates | 41.22355, -103.81054 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 48 ft |
| Dam Height | 48 ft |
| Dam Length | 5,800 ft |
| Year Completed | 1910 (116 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 8,428 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 8,428 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 2,678 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 264 acres |
| Drainage Area | 1,203 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 22,107 cfs |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Irrigation |
| Owner | South Platte Natural Resources District |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 09/19/2024 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NE00749 |
| Federal ID | NE00749 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |