West Wash Dam
West Wash Dam is an earth dam located in Washoe County, Nevada, built in 1960. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
About West Wash Dam
The primary purpose of West Wash 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 City Of Reno (local government). It impounds the West Wash near Reno.
The dam stands 70 feet tall and stretches 765 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 17 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 293 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 3 square miles. Completed in 1960, the structure is well into its service life at over 50 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. Its condition is rated fair — the dam has minor deficiencies that are being addressed or do not pose an immediate safety threat. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 05/16/2023.
At 70 feet, this dam is taller than 96% 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 Nevada 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 | Nevada |
| County | Washoe |
| Nearest City | Reno |
| River/Stream | West Wash |
| Coordinates | 39.54230, -119.84580 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 70 ft |
| Dam Height | 66 ft |
| Dam Length | 765 ft |
| Year Completed | 1960 (66 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 293 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 293 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 17 acres |
| Drainage Area | 3 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 6,624 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | CITY OF RENO |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 05/16/2023 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NV00078 |
| Federal ID | NV00078 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |