Upper Little Nemaha 5 is an earth dam located in Otoe County, Nebraska, built in 1996. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 48 ft48 ft tall and 1,190 ft long, taller than 92% 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 Upper Little Nemaha 5
The primary purpose of Upper Little Nemaha 5 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 Nemaha Natural Resources District (local government). It impounds the Tr-hooper Creek near Unadilla.
The dam stands 48 feet tall and stretches 1,190 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 46 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 2,035 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 7 square miles. Completed in 1996, the structure is 30 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 05/10/2023.
At 48 feet, this dam is taller than 92% of dams nationwide.
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Location
| State | Nebraska |
| County | Otoe |
| Nearest City | Unadilla |
| River/Stream | Tr-hooper Creek |
| Coordinates | 40.77582, -96.43109 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 48 ft |
| Dam Height | 40 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,190 ft |
| Year Completed | 1996 (30 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 2,035 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 2,035 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 286 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 46 acres |
| Drainage Area | 7 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 3,851 cfs |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | Nemaha Natural Resources District |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 05/10/2023 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Not Required |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NE02436 |
| Federal ID | NE02436 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |