Box Elder Creek 5-a is an earth dam located in Buffalo County, Nebraska, built in 1975. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 21 ft21 ft tall and 1,484 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 Box Elder Creek 5-a
The primary purpose of Box Elder Creek 5-a 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 Central Platte Natural Resources District (local government). It impounds the Boxelder Creek near Shelton.
The dam stands 21 feet tall and stretches 1,484 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 76 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 1,907 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 6 square miles. Completed in 1975, 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 04/05/2023.
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Location
| State | Nebraska |
| County | Buffalo |
| Nearest City | Shelton |
| River/Stream | Boxelder Creek |
| Coordinates | 40.83156, -98.82899 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 21 ft |
| Dam Height | 21 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,484 ft |
| Year Completed | 1975 (51 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 1,907 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 1,907 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 250 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 76 acres |
| Drainage Area | 6 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 5,060 cfs |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | Central Platte Natural Resources District |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 04/05/2023 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Not Required |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NE01669 |
| Federal ID | NE01669 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |