Ben Norman Dam

Ben Norman Dam is an earth dam located in Sioux County, Nebraska, built in 1943. It carries a Low hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.

About Ben Norman Dam

The primary purpose of Ben Norman Dam is irrigation. The dam stores and diverts water for agricultural irrigation, supporting farming operations in the surrounding area. The dam is owned by Leonard & Linda Forbes (private). It impounds the Tr-big Cottonwood Creek near Interior Sd.

The dam stands 26 feet tall and stretches 740 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 39 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 374 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 4 square miles. Completed in 1943, 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 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 09/26/2019.

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Low HazardFair ConditionEmergency Action Plan: Not Required

Location

StateNebraska
CountySioux
Nearest CityInterior Sd
River/StreamTr-big Cottonwood Creek
Coordinates42.87222, -103.52899

Physical Characteristics

Dam TypeEarth
NID Height26 ft
Dam Height22 ft
Dam Length740 ft
Year Completed1943 (83 years old)

Storage & Hydraulics

NID Storage374 acre-ft
Max Storage374 acre-ft
Normal Storage168 acre-ft
Surface Area39 acres
Drainage Area4 sq mi
Max Discharge1,430 cfs

Ownership & Safety

PurposeIrrigation
OwnerLeonard & Linda Forbes
Owner TypePrivate
Hazard ClassificationLow
Condition AssessmentFair
Last Inspection09/26/2019
Emergency Action PlanNot Required

Identifiers

NID IDNE01096
Federal IDNE01096
More InfoState Dam Safety Program

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