Lake Wanahoo Dam
Lake Wanahoo Dam is an earth dam located in Saunders County, Nebraska, built in 2010. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Lake Wanahoo Dam
Lake Wanahoo Dam is a dam in Saunders, Nebraska. The dam is owned by Lower Platte North Natural Resources District (local government). It impounds the Sand Creek near Wahoo.
The dam stands 59 feet tall and stretches 4,800 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 662 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 27,356 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 87 square miles. Completed in 2010, the structure is relatively new.
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 08/22/2024.
At 59 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 | Saunders |
| Nearest City | Wahoo |
| River/Stream | Sand Creek |
| Coordinates | 41.23510, -96.61273 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 59 ft |
| Dam Height | 53 ft |
| Dam Length | 4,800 ft |
| Year Completed | 2010 (16 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 27,356 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 27,356 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 7,150 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 662 acres |
| Drainage Area | 87 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 63,763 cfs |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Other |
| Owner | Lower Platte North Natural Resources District |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 08/22/2024 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NE03108 |
| Federal ID | NE03108 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |