Upper Big Nemaha J-15a is an earth dam located in Johnson County, Nebraska, built in 1973. It carries a Low hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 26 ft26 ft tall and 480 ft long, taller than 55% of U.S. dams with a recorded height. 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 Upper Big Nemaha J-15a
Upper Big Nemaha J-15a is a dam in Johnson, Nebraska. The dam is owned by Nemaha Natural Resources District (local government). It impounds the Tr-n Fk Big Nemaha River near Sterling.
The dam stands 26 feet tall and stretches 480 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 3 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 66 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 0 square miles. Completed in 1973, the structure is well into its service life at over 50 years old.
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 satisfactory, indicating no existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. The most recent inspection on record was 04/28/2022.
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Location
| State | Nebraska |
| County | Johnson |
| Nearest City | Sterling |
| River/Stream | Tr-n Fk Big Nemaha River |
| Coordinates | 40.48614, -96.40149 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 26 ft |
| Dam Height | 22 ft |
| Dam Length | 480 ft |
| Year Completed | 1973 (53 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 66 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 66 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 13 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 3 acres |
| Drainage Area | 0 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 280 cfs |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Other |
| Owner | Nemaha Natural Resources District |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | Low |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 04/28/2022 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Not Required |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NE01263 |
| Federal ID | NE01263 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |