Prairie Creek Upland Dam 1 (pcul 1)
Prairie Creek Upland Dam 1 (pcul 1) is an earth dam located in Buffalo County, Nebraska, built in 2015. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Prairie Creek Upland Dam 1 (pcul 1)
The primary purpose of Prairie Creek Upland Dam 1 (pcul 1) 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 Central Platte Natural Resources District (local government). It impounds the Prairie Creek near Grand Island.
The dam stands 51 feet tall and stretches 1,591 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 0 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 5,776 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 13 square miles. Completed in 2015, 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 04/17/2024.
At 51 feet, this dam is taller than 93% 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 | Buffalo |
| Nearest City | Grand Island |
| River/Stream | Prairie Creek |
| Coordinates | 40.85245, -98.75976 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 51 ft |
| Dam Height | 39 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,591 ft |
| Year Completed | 2015 (11 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 5,776 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 5,776 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 0 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 0 acres |
| Drainage Area | 13 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 17,585 cfs |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | Central Platte Natural Resources District |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 04/17/2024 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NE09349 |
| Federal ID | NE09349 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |