Twin Lakes Dam
Twin Lakes Dam is an earth dam located in Seward County, Nebraska, built in 1965. It carries a High hazard potential classification.
About Twin Lakes Dam
The primary purpose of Twin Lakes 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 South Branch Middle Creek near Lincoln.
The dam stands 45 feet tall and stretches 3,500 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 255 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 11,750 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 11 square miles. Completed in 1965, 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 07/29/2024.
At 45 feet, this dam is taller than 91% of dams nationwide.
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 | Seward |
| Nearest City | Lincoln |
| River/Stream | South Branch Middle Creek |
| Coordinates | 40.82411, -96.95674 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 45 ft |
| Dam Length | 3,500 ft |
| Year Completed | 1965 (61 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 11,750 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 11,750 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 2,850 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 255 acres |
| Drainage Area | 11 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 25,200 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 | 07/29/2024 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NE01060 |
| Federal ID | NE01060 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |