Blanke Dam is an earth dam located in Cheyenne County, Nebraska, built in 1956. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 21 ft21 ft tall and 318 ft long. 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 Blanke Dam
The primary purpose of Blanke 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 Robert Blanke (private). It impounds the Tr-lodgepole Creek near Sidney.
The dam stands 21 feet tall and stretches 318 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 20 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 203 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 3 square miles. Completed in 1956, 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 poor, meaning the dam has recognized safety deficiencies that require remediation to address risks. The most recent inspection on record was 04/20/2022.
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Location
| State | Nebraska |
| County | Cheyenne |
| Nearest City | Sidney |
| River/Stream | Tr-lodgepole Creek |
| Coordinates | 41.18196, -102.98100 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 21 ft |
| Dam Height | 21 ft |
| Dam Length | 318 ft |
| Year Completed | 1956 (70 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 203 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 203 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 128 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 20 acres |
| Drainage Area | 3 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 2,120 cfs |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | Robert Blanke |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 04/20/2022 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Not Required |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NE01141 |
| Federal ID | NE01141 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |