Phoenix Tailings Dam

Phoenix Tailings Dam is an earth dam located in Lander County, Nevada, built in 1971. It carries a Low hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.

About Phoenix Tailings Dam

The primary purpose of Phoenix Tailings 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 Nevada Gold Mines Llc (private). It impounds the None.

The dam stands 173 feet tall and stretches 23,220 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 480 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 99,000 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 0 square miles. Completed in 1971, the structure is well into its service life at over 50 years 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. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 06/05/2019.

At 173 feet, this dam is taller than 99% of all dams in the United States.

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Low HazardFair ConditionEmergency Action Plan: Yes

Location

StateNevada
CountyLander
Nearest CityNone
River/StreamNone
Coordinates40.48927, -117.13997

Physical Characteristics

Dam TypeEarth
NID Height173 ft
Dam Height173 ft
Dam Length23,220 ft
Year Completed1971 (55 years old)

Storage & Hydraulics

NID Storage99,000 acre-ft
Max Storage99,000 acre-ft
Normal Storage96,863 acre-ft
Surface Area480 acres
Drainage Area0 sq mi
Spillway TypeNone

Ownership & Safety

PurposeFlood Risk Reduction
OwnerNEVADA GOLD MINES LLC
Owner TypePrivate
Hazard ClassificationLow
Condition AssessmentFair
Last Inspection06/05/2019
Emergency Action PlanYes

Identifiers

NID IDNV00131
Federal IDNV00131
More InfoState Dam Safety Program

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