Spring Creek 19-b
Spring Creek 19-b is an earth dam located in Dawson County, Nebraska, built in 1979. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
About Spring Creek 19-b
The primary purpose of Spring Creek 19-b 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 Dawson County (local government). It impounds the Tr-spring Creek near Cozad.
The dam stands 60 feet tall and stretches 2,517 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 72 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 17,745 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 67 square miles. Completed in 1979, the structure is 47 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. Its condition is rated poor, meaning the dam has recognized safety deficiencies that require remediation to address risks. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 09/16/2024.
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 | Dawson |
| Nearest City | Cozad |
| River/Stream | Tr-spring Creek |
| Coordinates | 41.01381, -100.01573 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 60 ft |
| Dam Height | 54 ft |
| Dam Length | 2,517 ft |
| Year Completed | 1979 (47 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 17,745 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 17,745 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 253 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 72 acres |
| Drainage Area | 67 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 20,244 cfs |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | Dawson County |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 09/16/2024 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NE01734 |
| Federal ID | NE01734 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |