Maple Creek Recreation Area Dam
Maple Creek Recreation Area Dam is an earth dam located in Colfax County, Nebraska, built in 2010. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Maple Creek Recreation Area Dam
The primary purpose of Maple Creek Recreation Area 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 W Fk Maple Creek near Leigh.
The dam stands 55 feet tall and stretches 1,555 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 154 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 8,118 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 10 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 09/12/2024.
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 | Colfax |
| Nearest City | Leigh |
| River/Stream | W Fk Maple Creek |
| Coordinates | 41.70665, -97.24961 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 55 ft |
| Dam Height | 50 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,555 ft |
| Year Completed | 2010 (16 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 8,118 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 8,118 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 1,178 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 154 acres |
| Drainage Area | 10 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 15,200 cfs |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | Lower Elkhorn Natural Resources District |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 09/12/2024 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NE03154 |
| Federal ID | NE03154 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |