SPENCER DAM - NE00628-3328


Incident ID NE00628-3328
Dam Name SPENCER DAM
Downstream Hazard Potential S
State NE
Incident Date 03/14/2019
Incident Type Failure
Incident Driver Other
Incident Mechanism 1 Overtopping
Incident Mechanism 2 Other
Incident Mechanism 3
Incident Description Major flood and ice run on the river overtopped the dam and caused failure.
Named Hydrologic Event Winter Storm Ulmer
EAP Enacted (Y/N) due to Incident No
Fatalities (Number) 1
Number of People Evacuated
Number of Habitable Structures Evacuated
Number of Habitable Structures Flooded 1
Other Infrastructure Impacts Bridges
Economic Damages (in $) Unknown
Volume released at failure (ac-ft) 16487 ac-ft
Response Dam operators attempted to evacuate the individual living just downstream but the home apparently washed away before that happened.
Additional Remarks or Updates At the request of NE DNR and NPPD, ASDSO conducted an investigation of the failure.
Incident Time 5:15 AM
Incident Duration
Incident Report Produced Yes
Information Sources ASDSO Independent Investigation Panel
Owner Type U
Dam Type RE
Primary Purpose(s) H
EAP NR
Year Completed 1927
Year Modified 0
Dam Height 45 ft
Max Storage (ac-ft) 16487 ac-ft
Surface Area (acres) 864 acres
River Name NIOBRARA RIVER
Latitude 42.8088
Longitude -98.6566
Regulatory Agency(ies) NE DNR
NID Number NE00628
Attachments Y