SPENCER DAM - NE00628-3328
Dam Name: SPENCER DAM
State: NE
Downstream Hazard Potential: S
Incident Type: Failure
Incident Date: 03/14/2019
Incident Driver: Other
Incident Mechanism 1: Overtopping
Incident Mechanism 2Other
Incident Mechanism 3
Incident IDNE00628-3328
Incident DescriptionMajor flood and ice run on the river overtopped the dam and caused failure.
Named Hydrologic EventWinter Storm Ulmer
EAP Enacted (Y/N) due to IncidentNo
Fatalities (Number)1
Number of People Evacuated
Number of Habitable Structures Evacuated
Number of Habitable Structures Flooded1
Other Infrastructure ImpactsBridges
Economic Damages (in $)Unknown
ResponseDam operators attempted to evacuate the individual living just downstream but the home apparently washed away before that happened.
Volume released at failure (ac-ft)16487
Additional Remarks or UpdatesAt the request of NE DNR and NPPD, ASDSO conducted an investigation of the failure.
Owner TypeU
Dam TypeRE
Primary Purpose(s)H
EAPNR
Dam Height45 ft
Max Storage (ac-ft)16487.00
Surface Area (acres)864.00
Year Completed1927
NID NumberNE00628
River NameNIOBRARA RIVER
Latitude42.8088
Longitude-98.6566
Year Modified
Regulatory Agency(ies)NE DNR
Incident Time5:15 AM
Incident Duration
Incident Report ProducedYes
Information SourcesASDSO Independent Investigation Panel
