Papio Creek W-3
Papio Creek W-3 is an earth dam located in Washington County, Nebraska, built in 1983. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Papio Creek W-3
Papio Creek W-3 is a dam in Washington, Nebraska. The dam is owned by Papio Missouri River Natural Resources District (local government). It impounds the Tr-big Papio Creek near Kennard.
The dam stands 49 feet tall and stretches 1,110 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 4 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 269 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 0 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. Its condition is rated satisfactory, indicating no existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 05/09/2024.
At 49 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 | Washington |
| Nearest City | Kennard |
| River/Stream | Tr-big Papio Creek |
| Coordinates | 41.49613, -96.15835 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 49 ft |
| Dam Height | 45 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,110 ft |
| Year Completed | 1983 (43 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 269 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 269 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 13 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 4 acres |
| Drainage Area | 0 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 3,343 cfs |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Other |
| Owner | Papio Missouri River Natural Resources District |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 05/09/2024 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NE01883 |
| Federal ID | NE01883 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |