Wehrspann Dam
Wehrspann Dam is an earth dam located in Sarpy County, Nebraska, built in 1983. It carries a High hazard potential classification.
About Wehrspann Dam
The primary purpose of Wehrspann 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 Tr West Papillion Creek Basin near Omaha.
The dam stands 87 feet tall and stretches 1,810 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 246 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 17,164 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 13 square miles. Completed in 1983, the structure is 43 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 05/23/2023.
At 87 feet, this dam is taller than 97% 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 | Sarpy |
| Nearest City | Omaha |
| River/Stream | Tr West Papillion Creek Basin |
| Coordinates | 41.17258, -96.15120 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 87 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,810 ft |
| Year Completed | 1983 (43 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 17,164 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 17,164 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 2,710 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 246 acres |
| Drainage Area | 13 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 17,500 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 | 05/23/2023 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NE01882 |
| Federal ID | NE01882 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |