Candlewood Dam
Candlewood Dam is an earth dam located in Douglas County, Nebraska, built in 1973. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Candlewood Dam
The primary purpose of Candlewood Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Papio Missouri River Natural Resources District (local government). It impounds the Tr-big Papio Creek near Omaha.
The dam stands 62 feet tall and stretches 930 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 32 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 1,256 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 2 square miles. Completed in 1973, the structure is well into its service life at over 50 years old.
This dam carries a high hazard potential classification, which means that a failure or uncontrolled release of water would likely cause loss of human life. This classification reflects the consequences of failure, not the likelihood — it indicates that people live or work in the area downstream. Its condition is rated satisfactory, indicating no existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 05/16/2024.
At 62 feet, this dam is taller than 95% of all dams in the United States.
Living Downstream
If you live or work downstream of this dam, consider taking these steps: learn your local evacuation routes, check whether your county emergency management office has a dam failure inundation map, and sign up for local emergency alerts. The Nebraska dam safety program can provide more specific information about emergency planning for this structure.
Search for dams near your address to see all dams in your area with hazard classifications and safety data.
Location
| State | Nebraska |
| County | Douglas |
| Nearest City | Omaha |
| River/Stream | Tr-big Papio Creek |
| Coordinates | 41.27297, -96.10415 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 62 ft |
| Dam Height | 57 ft |
| Dam Length | 930 ft |
| Year Completed | 1973 (53 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 1,256 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 1,256 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 573 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 32 acres |
| Drainage Area | 2 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 15,630 cfs |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Papio Missouri River Natural Resources District |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 05/16/2024 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NE00138 |
| Federal ID | NE00138 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |