Bluestem Dam
Bluestem Dam is an earth dam located in Lancaster County, Nebraska, built in 1963. It carries a High hazard potential classification.
About Bluestem Dam
The primary purpose of Bluestem 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 Olive Branch Salt Creek near Sprague.
The dam stands 48 feet tall and stretches 2,760 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 325 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 17,550 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 17 square miles. Completed in 1963, 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 06/17/2021.
At 48 feet, this dam is taller than 92% 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 | Lancaster |
| Nearest City | Sprague |
| River/Stream | Olive Branch Salt Creek |
| Coordinates | 40.62833, -96.79000 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 48 ft |
| Dam Length | 2,760 ft |
| Year Completed | 1963 (63 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 17,550 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 17,550 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 3,020 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 325 acres |
| Drainage Area | 17 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 22,925 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 | 06/17/2021 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NE01064 |
| Federal ID | NE01064 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |