Big Five Dam
Big Five Dam is an earth dam located in Pershing County, Nevada, built in 1915. It carries a Low hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
About Big Five Dam
The primary purpose of Big Five Dam is irrigation. The dam stores and diverts water for agricultural irrigation, supporting farming operations in the surrounding area. The dam is owned by Pershing County Water Conservation District (local government). It impounds the Humboldt River-os.
The dam stands 10 feet tall and stretches 6,000 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 787 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 1,720 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 999 square miles. Completed in 1915, the structure is over a century old.
This dam has a low hazard potential classification, meaning that failure would cause minimal damage, limited primarily to the dam owner's property, with no expected loss of life. Its condition is rated fair — the dam has minor deficiencies that are being addressed or do not pose an immediate safety threat. The most recent inspection on record was 09/08/2021.
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Location
| State | Nevada |
| County | Pershing |
| Nearest City | None |
| River/Stream | Humboldt River-os |
| Coordinates | 40.05670, -118.46670 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 10 ft |
| Dam Height | 8 ft |
| Dam Length | 6,000 ft |
| Year Completed | 1915 (111 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 1,720 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 1,720 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 130 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 787 acres |
| Drainage Area | 999 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 1,050 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Controlled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Irrigation |
| Owner | PERSHING COUNTY WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | Low |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 09/08/2021 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Not Required |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NV00060 |
| Federal ID | NV00060 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |