Conestoga Dam
Conestoga Dam is an earth dam located in Lancaster County, Nebraska, built in 1964. It carries a High hazard potential classification.
About Conestoga Dam
The primary purpose of Conestoga Dam is flood risk reduction. The dam is designed to control downstream flooding by temporarily storing excess water during storms and releasing it at a controlled rate. The dam is owned by Usace - Omaha District (federal). It impounds the Holmes Creek near Lincoln.
The dam stands 65 feet tall and stretches 3,000 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 230 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 15,000 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 15 square miles. Completed in 1964, 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. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 07/17/2023.
At 65 feet, this dam is taller than 96% 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 | Lancaster |
| Nearest City | Lincoln |
| River/Stream | Holmes Creek |
| Coordinates | 40.76686, -96.84560 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 65 ft |
| Dam Length | 3,000 ft |
| Year Completed | 1964 (62 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 15,000 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 15,000 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 2,700 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 230 acres |
| Drainage Area | 15 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 27,220 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | USACE - Omaha District |
| Owner Type | Federal |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Not Available |
| Last Inspection | 07/17/2023 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NE01055 |
| Federal ID | NE01055 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |