Yankee Hill Dam
Yankee Hill Dam is an earth dam located in Lancaster County, Nebraska, built in 1965. It carries a High hazard potential classification.
About Yankee Hill Dam
The primary purpose of Yankee Hill 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 Usace - Omaha District (federal). It impounds the Cardwell Branch Salt Creek near Lincoln.
The dam stands 60 feet tall and stretches 3,100 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 284 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 10,300 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 8 square miles. Completed in 1965, the structure is well into its service life at over 50 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. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 06/05/2023.
At 60 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 | Lancaster |
| Nearest City | Lincoln |
| River/Stream | Cardwell Branch Salt Creek |
| Coordinates | 40.73088, -96.78323 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 60 ft |
| Dam Length | 3,100 ft |
| Year Completed | 1965 (61 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 10,300 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 10,300 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 2,000 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 284 acres |
| Drainage Area | 8 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 12,100 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | USACE - Omaha District |
| Owner Type | Federal |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Not Available |
| Last Inspection | 06/05/2023 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NE01058 |
| Federal ID | NE01058 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |