Herman Dam
Herman Dam is an earth dam located in Washoe County, Nevada, built in 1955. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
About Herman Dam
The primary purpose of Herman Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Washoe County Parks And Recreation (local government). It impounds the Evans Creek near Reno.
The dam stands 17 feet tall and stretches 220 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 2 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 16 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 4 square miles. Completed in 1955, 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 06/01/2023.
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 | Evans Creek |
| Coordinates | 39.54810, -119.82520 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 17 ft |
| Dam Height | 13 ft |
| Dam Length | 220 ft |
| Year Completed | 1955 (71 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 16 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 16 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 12 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 2 acres |
| Drainage Area | 4 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 650 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | WASHOE COUNTY PARKS AND RECREATION |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 06/01/2023 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NV10371 |
| Federal ID | NV10371 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |