Papio Creek 15-a
Papio Creek 15-a is an earth dam located in Douglas County, Nebraska, built in 2017. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Papio Creek 15-a
The primary purpose of Papio Creek 15-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 Papio Missouri River Natural Resources District (local government). It impounds the N Br West Papio Creek near Omaha.
The dam stands 64 feet tall and stretches 1,920 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 220 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 9,195 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 11 square miles. Completed in 2017, 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 05/16/2024.
At 64 feet, this dam is taller than 96% 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 | Douglas |
| Nearest City | Omaha |
| River/Stream | N Br West Papio Creek |
| Coordinates | 41.30859, -96.18433 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 64 ft |
| Dam Height | 56 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,920 ft |
| Year Completed | 2017 (9 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 9,195 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 9,195 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 2,300 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 220 acres |
| Drainage Area | 11 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 22,620 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 | 05/16/2024 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NE03289 |
| Federal ID | NE03289 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |