Willow Creek Dam
Willow Creek Dam is an earth dam located in Pierce County, Nebraska, built in 1983. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
About Willow Creek Dam
The primary purpose of Willow Creek 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 Lower Elkhorn Natural Resources District (local government). It impounds the Willow Creek near Pierce.
The dam stands 80 feet tall and stretches 2,930 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 715 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 30,300 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 210 square miles. Completed in 1983, the structure is 43 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 poor, meaning the dam has recognized safety deficiencies that require remediation to address risks. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 10/10/2024.
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 | Pierce |
| Nearest City | Pierce |
| River/Stream | Willow Creek |
| Coordinates | 42.18043, -97.55473 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 80 ft |
| Dam Height | 58 ft |
| Dam Length | 2,930 ft |
| Year Completed | 1983 (43 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 30,300 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 30,300 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 6,838 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 715 acres |
| Drainage Area | 210 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 41,220 cfs |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | Lower Elkhorn Natural Resources District |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 10/10/2024 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NE02134 |
| Federal ID | NE02134 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |