Branched Oak Dam
Branched Oak Dam is an earth dam located in Lancaster County, Nebraska, built in 1967. It carries a High hazard potential classification.
About Branched Oak Dam
The primary purpose of Branched Oak 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 Oak Creek near Raymond.
The dam stands 80 feet tall and stretches 6,000 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 1,780 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 122,283 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 89 square miles. Completed in 1967, 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 06/02/2025.
At 80 feet, this dam is taller than 97% 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 | Raymond |
| River/Stream | Oak Creek |
| Coordinates | 40.97000, -96.85333 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 80 ft |
| Dam Length | 6,000 ft |
| Year Completed | 1967 (59 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 122,283 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 122,283 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 25,994 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 1,780 acres |
| Drainage Area | 89 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 7,825 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 | 06/02/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NE01063 |
| Federal ID | NE01063 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |