Nelson Dam is an earth dam located in Charles Mix County, South Dakota, built in 1980. It carries a Low hazard potential classification.
Dam profile
NID height · 40 ft40 ft tall and 250 ft long, taller than 86% 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 Nelson Dam
The primary purpose of Nelson Dam is irrigation. The dam stores and diverts water for agricultural irrigation, supporting farming operations in the surrounding area. The dam is owned by Gary & Arlo Nelson (private). It impounds the Cedar Creek-tr.
The dam stands 40 feet tall and stretches 250 feet across, and has a maximum storage capacity of 150 acre-feet. Completed in 1980, the structure is 46 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.
At 40 feet, this dam is taller than 86% of dams nationwide.
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Location
| State | South Dakota |
| County | Charles Mix |
| River/Stream | Cedar Creek-tr |
| Coordinates | 43.29273, -98.88363 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 40 ft |
| Dam Height | 40 ft |
| Dam Length | 250 ft |
| Year Completed | 1980 (46 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 150 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 150 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 100 acre-ft |
| Max Discharge | 1,560 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Irrigation |
| Owner | Gary & Arlo Nelson |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | Low |
| Condition Assessment | Not assessed |
| Emergency Action Plan | Not Required |
Identifiers
| NID ID | SD02540 |
| Federal ID | SD02540 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |