Wells Ranch Dam is an earth dam located in Howard County, Nebraska, built in 1970. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 39 ft39 ft tall and 195 ft long, taller than 85% 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 Wells Ranch Dam
The primary purpose of Wells Ranch Dam is fire protection, stock, or small fish pond. The dam maintains a small impoundment used for fire suppression, livestock watering, or as a fish pond. The dam is owned by Wells Ranch Inc (private). It impounds the Tr-north Loup River.
The dam stands 39 feet tall and stretches 195 feet across, has a maximum storage capacity of 51 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 1 square miles. Completed in 1970, 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 poor, meaning the dam has recognized safety deficiencies that require remediation to address risks. The most recent inspection on record was 11/01/2022.
At 39 feet, this dam is taller than 85% of dams nationwide.
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Location
| State | Nebraska |
| County | Howard |
| Nearest City | None |
| River/Stream | Tr-north Loup River |
| Coordinates | 41.35798, -98.59885 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 39 ft |
| Dam Height | 39 ft |
| Dam Length | 195 ft |
| Year Completed | 1970 (56 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 51 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 51 acre-ft |
| Drainage Area | 1 sq mi |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Fire Protection, Stock, Or Small Fish Pond |
| Owner | Wells Ranch Inc |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 11/01/2022 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Not Required |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NE10007 |
| Federal ID | NE10007 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |