Project Name: Papillion Creek General Reevaluation Report
Location: Douglas, Sarpy and Washington Counties, Nebraska
Authority: Energy and Water Development Appropriation Act, 1982 (Public Law 97-88) House Report No. 97-177
Sponsors: Papio-Missouri River Natural Resources District (NRD)
Current Phase: PED

The Papio-Missouri River NRD (non-Federal sponsor) is partnering with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Omaha District) on a study to evaluate solutions to reduce flood risks and improve public safety within the Papillion Creek basin in Douglas, Sarpy and Washington counties in Nebraska. 

Serious flooding, including loss of life, occurred in the Papillion Creek Basin in 1964 and 1965. As a result of these floods, a 21-dam project was authorized by the Flood Control Act of 1968. Since then, the project has experienced considerable delays and size reduction because of significant changes in costs, regulations, and new legislation, as well as local opposition. As a result, only four of the authorized dams have been constructed by the Corps. Due to ongoing development in the basin, which has resulted in channel instability, and increases in surface runoff and water velocities, significant flood risk remains. There are approximately 4,700 structures in the 500-year floodplain with an approximate structure value of $1.9B.

Project Update: The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, in cooperation with the Papio-Missouri River Natural Resources District (NRD), recently completed a feasibility study with a recommended flood risk management and recreation plan for the South Papillion Creek, Little Papillion Creek, Thomas Creek, Big Papillion Creek, Cole Creek, Papillion Creek, Saddle Creek, and West Papillion Creek. The Chief’s Report was signed by General Spellmon on January 24, 2022.

The plan includes:

  1. A dam with a 74-acre conservation pool and sediment detention at South Papillion Creek Dam Site 19 near Gretna, Nebraska;
  2. A dry dam at Thomas Creek Dam Site 10 in rural Douglas County, Nebraska;
  3. A new levee/floodwall along Little Papillion Creek in Omaha, Nebraska consisting of 3.67 miles of structure on the right bank, 2.98 miles of structure on the left bank, and eight road and bridge closure structures;
  4. Nonstructural features including 71 basement fills, elevation of 59 residential structures, and dry floodproofing of 256 commercial structures along Big Papillion Creek, Cole Creek, Papillion Creek, Saddle Creek, South Papillion Creek, and West Papillion Creek; and
  5. Recreational features consisting of a 2.5-mile trail, parking lots, restrooms, picnic shelter, boat access, new signage and interpretive features, directional signs, and related features at the Dam Site 19 reservoir.

Papillion Maps

Preconstruction engineering and design, if funded, will be conducted under the study authority cited above.

For more information, contact cenwo-planning@usace.army.mil