Flamingo Wash Upper Detention Basin Dam

About Flamingo Wash Upper Detention Basin Dam

The primary purpose of Flamingo Wash Upper Detention Basin Dam is debris control. The dam is designed to catch sediment, rocks, and debris carried by flowing water — particularly important in areas prone to mudslides or heavy erosion. The dam is owned by Clark County Public Works (local government). It impounds the Flamingo Wash near North Las Vegas.

The dam stands 47 feet tall and stretches 4,813 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 90 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 2,080 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 19 square miles. Completed in 1992, the structure is 34 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 04/11/2022.

At 47 feet, this dam is taller than 92% 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 Nevada dam safety program can provide more specific information about emergency planning for this structure.

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