Watson Dam is an earth dam located in Webster County, Nebraska, built in 1995. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification.
Dam profile
NID height · 17 ft17 ft tall and 325 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 Watson Dam
The primary purpose of Watson 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 Mitch a & Edith J Watson (private). It impounds the Tr-elm Creek near Guide Rock.
The dam stands 17 feet tall and stretches 325 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 3 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 62 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 1 square miles. Completed in 1995, the structure is 31 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. The most recent inspection on record was 06/23/2021.
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Location
| State | Nebraska |
| County | Webster |
| Nearest City | Guide Rock |
| River/Stream | Tr-elm Creek |
| Coordinates | 40.08405, -98.41695 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 17 ft |
| Dam Height | 17 ft |
| Dam Length | 325 ft |
| Year Completed | 1995 (31 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 62 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 62 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 8 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 3 acres |
| Drainage Area | 1 sq mi |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | Mitch a & Edith J Watson |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Not assessed |
| Last Inspection | 06/23/2021 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Not Required |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NE03941 |
| Federal ID | NE03941 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |