Papio Creek 21 - Walnut Creek
Papio Creek 21 - Walnut Creek is an earth dam located in Sarpy County, Nebraska, built in 1996. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Papio Creek 21 - Walnut Creek
The primary purpose of Papio Creek 21 - Walnut Creek 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 Papio Missouri River Natural Resources District (local government). It impounds the Walnut Creek near Papillion.
The dam stands 62 feet tall and stretches 1,330 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 97 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 3,347 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 3 square miles. Completed in 1996, the structure is 30 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 satisfactory, indicating no existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 10/30/2024.
At 62 feet, this dam is taller than 95% 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 | Sarpy |
| Nearest City | Papillion |
| River/Stream | Walnut Creek |
| Coordinates | 41.14400, -96.06778 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 62 ft |
| Dam Height | 54 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,330 ft |
| Year Completed | 1996 (30 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 3,347 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 3,347 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 1,041 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 97 acres |
| Drainage Area | 3 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 8,092 cfs |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | Papio Missouri River Natural Resources District |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 10/30/2024 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NE02430 |
| Federal ID | NE02430 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |