Wauneta North Dam is an earth dam located in Chase County, Nebraska, built in 1970. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 72 ft72 ft tall and 1,212 ft long, taller than 96% 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 Wauneta North Dam
The primary purpose of Wauneta North Dam 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 Chase County (local government). It impounds the Tr-frenchman River near Wauneta.
The dam stands 72 feet tall and stretches 1,212 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 5 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 2,934 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 6 square miles. Completed in 1970, 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 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 08/03/2022.
At 72 feet, this dam is taller than 96% of all dams in the United States.
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Location
| State | Nebraska |
| County | Chase |
| Nearest City | Wauneta |
| River/Stream | Tr-frenchman River |
| Coordinates | 40.43638, -101.36760 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 72 ft |
| Dam Height | 72 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,212 ft |
| Year Completed | 1970 (56 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 2,934 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 2,934 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 14 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 5 acres |
| Drainage Area | 6 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 279 cfs |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | Chase County |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 08/03/2022 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Not Required |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NE01140 |
| Federal ID | NE01140 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |