Prairie Queen Main Dam
Prairie Queen Main Dam is an earth dam located in Sarpy County, Nebraska, built in 2014. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Prairie Queen Main Dam
The primary purpose of Prairie Queen Main 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 Papio Missouri River Natural Resources District (local government). It impounds the Tr-south Papillion Creek near La Vista.
The dam stands 73 feet tall and stretches 1,200 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 125 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 5,060 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 5 square miles. Completed in 2014, the structure is relatively new.
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 06/13/2024.
At 73 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 | La Vista |
| River/Stream | Tr-south Papillion Creek |
| Coordinates | 41.16677, -96.11114 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 73 ft |
| Dam Height | 68 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,200 ft |
| Year Completed | 2014 (12 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 5,060 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 5,060 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 1,700 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 125 acres |
| Drainage Area | 5 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 13,625 cfs |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | Papio Missouri River Natural Resources District |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 06/13/2024 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NE05082 |
| Federal ID | NE05082 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |