Nelms Dam is an earth dam located in Custer County, Nebraska, built in 1962. It carries a Low hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 69 ft69 ft tall and 2,780 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 Nelms Dam
Nelms Dam is a dam in Custer, Nebraska. The dam is owned by Clarence a & Mary Esther Nelms Trusts (private). It impounds the Tr-buffalo Creek near Willow Island.
The dam stands 69 feet tall and stretches 2,780 feet across, has a maximum storage capacity of 896 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 3 square miles. Completed in 1962, 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 poor, meaning the dam has recognized safety deficiencies that require remediation to address risks. The most recent inspection on record was 05/07/2019.
At 69 feet, this dam is taller than 96% of all dams in the United States.
Search for dams near your address to see all dams in your area with hazard classifications and safety data.
Location
| State | Nebraska |
| County | Custer |
| Nearest City | Willow Island |
| River/Stream | Tr-buffalo Creek |
| Coordinates | 41.10844, -100.11418 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 69 ft |
| Dam Height | 69 ft |
| Dam Length | 2,780 ft |
| Year Completed | 1962 (64 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 896 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 896 acre-ft |
| Drainage Area | 3 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 884 cfs |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Other |
| Owner | Clarence a & Mary Esther Nelms Trusts |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | Low |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 05/07/2019 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Not Required |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NE02153 |
| Federal ID | NE02153 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |