Zorinsky Dam
Zorinsky Dam is a rockfill dam located in Douglas County, Nebraska, built in 1985. It carries a High hazard potential classification.
About Zorinsky Dam
The primary purpose of Zorinsky 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 Boxelder Creek near Omaha.
The dam stands 90 feet tall and stretches 3,400 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 253 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 18,282 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 16 square miles. Completed in 1985, the structure is 41 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 05/26/2022.
At 90 feet, this dam is taller than 98% 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 | Douglas |
| Nearest City | Omaha |
| River/Stream | Boxelder Creek |
| Coordinates | 41.22045, -96.16072 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Rockfill |
| NID Height | 90 ft |
| Dam Length | 3,400 ft |
| Year Completed | 1985 (41 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 18,282 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 18,282 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 3,472 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 253 acres |
| Drainage Area | 16 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 30,000 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 | 05/26/2022 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NE02185 |
| Federal ID | NE02185 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |