Blackwood Creek 11-a
Blackwood Creek 11-a is an earth dam located in Hayes County, Nebraska, built in 1992. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
About Blackwood Creek 11-a
The primary purpose of Blackwood Creek 11-a 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 Middle Republican Natural Resources District (local government). It impounds the Blackwood Creek near Mccook.
The dam stands 74 feet tall and stretches 1,070 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 22 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 6,050 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 61 square miles. Completed in 1992, the structure is 34 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 07/01/2024.
At 74 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 | Hayes |
| Nearest City | Mccook |
| River/Stream | Blackwood Creek |
| Coordinates | 40.56417, -101.12409 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 74 ft |
| Dam Height | 59 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,070 ft |
| Year Completed | 1992 (34 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 6,050 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 6,050 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 115 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 22 acres |
| Drainage Area | 61 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 5,920 cfs |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | Middle Republican Natural Resources District |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 07/01/2024 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NE02369 |
| Federal ID | NE02369 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |