Swan Creek 20
Swan Creek 20 is an earth dam located in Saline County, Nebraska, built in 1987. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
About Swan Creek 20
The primary purpose of Swan Creek 20 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 Big Blue Natural Resources District (local government). It impounds the S Fk Swan Creek near Farmstead.
The dam stands 55 feet tall and stretches 1,760 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 54 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 3,978 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 7 square miles. Completed in 1987, the structure is 39 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 04/02/2024.
At 55 feet, this dam is taller than 94% 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 | Saline |
| Nearest City | Farmstead |
| River/Stream | S Fk Swan Creek |
| Coordinates | 40.38347, -97.29282 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 55 ft |
| Dam Height | 47 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,760 ft |
| Year Completed | 1987 (39 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 3,978 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 3,978 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 341 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 54 acres |
| Drainage Area | 7 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 18,800 cfs |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | Lower Big Blue Natural Resources District |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 04/02/2024 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NE02248 |
| Federal ID | NE02248 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |