Johnson Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Gosper County, Nebraska, built in 1941. It carries a High hazard potential classification.
Dam profile
NID height · 47 ft47 ft tall and 4,985 ft long, taller than 91% of U.S. dams with a recorded height. Height is drawn to scale against a ten-story building, about 100 ft; the profile is a generic embankment section and the water level is illustrative.
About Johnson Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Johnson Lake Dam is hydroelectric. The dam generates hydroelectric power by channeling water through turbines, converting the energy of flowing water into electricity. The dam is owned by Central Nebraska Public Power & Irrigation District (public utility).
The dam stands 47 feet tall and stretches 4,985 feet across, and has a maximum storage capacity of 59,000 acre-feet. Completed in 1941, the structure is well-established, with more than 75 years of service.
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. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 09/30/2020.
At 47 feet, this dam is taller than 91% 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 | Gosper |
| Coordinates | 40.67512, -99.83913 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 47 ft |
| Dam Height | 47 ft |
| Dam Length | 4,985 ft |
| Year Completed | 1941 (85 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 59,000 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 59,000 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 54,000 acre-ft |
| Spillway Type | None |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Hydroelectric |
| Owner | Central Nebraska Public Power & Irrigation District |
| Owner Type | Public Utility |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Not assessed |
| Last Inspection | 09/30/2020 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NE01025 |
| Federal ID | NE01025 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |