The data dictionary from NID provides details on the data attributes. Below is only a short description of the attributes. Note that not all the attributes specified in the data dictionary are available in the data from NID. It appears that NID revised the data but not the data dictionary.
data(nid_cleaned)Data frame with 61 columns and 100 rows
Variables:
Dam_Name - The official name of the dam
Other_Dam_Name - Names other than the official name (i.e., reservoir name) of the dam in common use
NID_ID - The official NID identification number, known formerly as the National ID
Num_Separate_Struct - Number of separate structures
Other_Structure_ID - The identification number (S001, S002, etc.) for the saddle dam or dike associated with the larger dam project
Longitude - Longitude at dam centerline, in decimal degrees, NAD83
Latitude - Latitude at dam centerline, in decimal degrees, NAD83
Section - The information is in any form that is understandable and that clearly designates the individual values, i.e. S21, 73N, R69W
River - The River or Stream designation
Owner_Type - Code to indicate the type of owner
Private_Dam - Y or N indicating whether or not the dam is privately owned or not
Dam_Designer - Name of the principal firm(s) or agency accomplishing design of dam and major appurtenant operating features
Dam_Type - Codes to indicate the type of dam
Core - Code to indicate the position, type of watertight member and certainty
Foundation - Code for the material upon which dam is founded, and certainty
Primary_Purpose - Code(s) to indicate the current purpose(s) for which the reservoir is used
All_Purposes - Code(s) to indicate the current purpose(s) for which the reservoir is used
Year_Completed - Year when the original main dam structure was completed
Year_Modified - Year when major modifications or rehabilitation of dam or major control structures were completed
Dam_Length - Length of the dam, in feet
Dam_Height - Height of the dam, in feet
Structural_Height - Structural height of the dam, in feet
Hydraulic_Height - Hydraulic height of the dam, in feet
NID_Height - Maximum value of dam height, structural height, and hydraulic height. Accepted as the general height of the dam
Max_Discharge - Maximum discharge, in cubic feet per second
Max_Storage - Maximum storage, in acre-feet
Normal_Storage - Normal storage, in acre-feet
NID_Storage - Maximum value of normal storage and maximum storage. Accepted as the general storage of the dam
Surface_Area - Surface area, in acres
Drainage_Area - Drainage area of the dam, in square miles
EAP - Code indicating whether this dam has an Emergency Action Plan (EAP) developed by the dam owner
Inspection_Date - Date of the most recent inspection of the dam prior to the transmittal of the data by the submitting agency
Inspection_Frequency - The scheduled frequency interval for periodic inspections, in years
Spillway_Type - Code that describes the type of spillway
Spillway_Width - The width of the spillway, in feet
Outlet_Gates - Code(s) that describe the type of (1) spillway and (2) controlled outlet gates
Volume - Total number of cubic yards occupied by the materials used in the dam structure
Num_Locks - Number of existing navigation locks for the project
Length_Locks - Length of the primary navigation lock, in feet
Width_Locks - Width of the primary navigation lock, in feet
Permitting_Authority - Yes if the state regulatory organization has the authority to review
Inspection_Authority - Yes if the state regulatory organization has the authority to require or perform the inspection
Enforcement_Authority - Yes if the state regulatory organization has the authority to issue notices
Jurisdictional_Dam - Yes if this dam meets the state regulatory organization's definition of a jurisdictional dam
State_Reg_Dam - Calculated field based on Permitting Authority, Inspection Authority and Enforcement Authority
State_Reg_Agency - Name of the primary state agency with regulatory or approval authority over the dam
Fed_Funding - Code identifying which federal agency was involved in funding of the dam
Fed_Design - Code identifying which federal agency was involved in the design of the dam
Fed_Construction - Code identifying which federal agency was involved in the construction of the dam
Fed_Regulatory - Code identifying which federal agency is involved in the regulation of the dam
Fed_Inspection - Code identifying which federal agency is involved in the inspection of the dam
Fed_Operation - Code identifying which federal agency is involved in the operation of the dam
Fed_Owner - Code identifying which federal agency partly or wholly owns the dam
Fed_Other - Code identifying which federal agency is involved in other aspects of the dam
Source_Agency - Primary state or federal agency responsible for data
State - State where dam is located
Submit_Date - Date data was submitted to the US Army Corps of Engineers for inclusion to the National Inventory of Dams
Url_Address - Web Site for more information on particular dam
Congress_Rep - Name of congressional representative for the congressional district where dam is located
Political_Party - Name of political party associated with the congressional representative for the congressional district where dam is located
Congress_District - Congressional District where dam is located
NID: The National Inventory of Dams from the United States Army Corps of Engineers, <http://nid.usace.army.mil>, data extracted from NID's website in March 2014.