Dead Colt Creek Dam

About Dead Colt Creek Dam

The primary purpose of Dead Colt Creek 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 Ransom County Wrb (local government). It impounds the Dead Colt Creek near Horace.

The dam stands 92 feet tall and stretches 1,200 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 124 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 8,901 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 60 square miles. Completed in 1984, the structure is 42 years old.

This dam has a significant hazard potential classification, meaning that a failure could cause significant economic damage — flooding roads, bridges, or property downstream — but is not expected to result in loss of life. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 06/06/2019.

At 92 feet, this dam is taller than 98% of all dams in the United States.

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