Nelson Dam; Selmar

Little Muddy River· Williams, North Dakota· Built 1975· Earth· 24 ft tall
Low Hazard Recreation Fish And Wildlife Pond Private

Key Takeaway

Nelson Dam; Selmar is classified as low hazard in North Dakota. It was completed in 1975 and is 51 years old. Its primary use is recreation.

Physical Details

Dam Height 24 ft (taller than 75.9% in ND)
Dam Length0 ft
Dam TypeEarth
Max Storage68 acre-ft
Normal Storage68 acre-ft
Surface Area11 acres
Drainage Area3 sq mi
Year Completed1975 (51 years old)
NID IDND00556

Safety Information

Low Hazard

No probable loss of human life and low economic/environmental losses expected.

Hazard potential describes downstream consequences of failure, not the dam's current condition. What does this mean?

Emergency Action Plan: No
State Regulated: Yes
Regulatory Agency: ND DWR

Ownership

Selmer T Nelson

Private

Nearby Dams

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the hazard classification of Nelson Dam; Selmar?

Nelson Dam; Selmar is classified as Low Hazard. No probable loss of human life and low economic/environmental losses expected. This classification refers to the potential downstream consequences of a failure, not the dam's current structural condition.

Who owns and operates Nelson Dam; Selmar?

Nelson Dam; Selmar is owned by Selmer T Nelson (Private). The owner is responsible for maintenance, inspections, and compliance with dam safety regulations.

When was Nelson Dam; Selmar built?

Nelson Dam; Selmar was completed in 1975, making it 51 years old. Many U.S. dams were built between the 1930s and 1970s during a period of major infrastructure investment.

What is the primary purpose of Nelson Dam; Selmar?

Nelson Dam; Selmar serves the following purposes: Recreation, Fish And Wildlife Pond. Many dams in the U.S. are multi-purpose, supporting flood control, water supply, recreation, and other uses.

How tall is Nelson Dam; Selmar?

Nelson Dam; Selmar has a dam height of 24 ft. Dam height is measured from the natural streambed at the downstream toe to the top of the dam, and may differ from the visible height.

Data from the National Inventory of Dams (NID) maintained by the US Army Corps of Engineers. Dam conditions may have changed since the last update. This site is not affiliated with USACE. Do not use for emergency planning — contact your local dam safety program.