Onion Dam

Onion Dam is an earth dam located in Humboldt County, Nevada. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.

About Onion Dam

The primary purpose of Onion Dam is irrigation. The dam stores and diverts water for agricultural irrigation, supporting farming operations in the surrounding area. The dam is owned by Alder Creek Ranch Llc (private). It impounds the East Fork Alder Creek.

The dam stands 54 feet tall and stretches 320 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 101 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 1,500 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 0 square miles.

This dam has a significant hazard potential classification, meaning that a failure could cause significant economic damage — flooding roads, bridges, or property downstream — but is not expected to result in 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 07/18/2022.

At 54 feet, this dam is taller than 94% of dams nationwide.

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Significant HazardFair ConditionEmergency Action Plan: Yes

Location

StateNevada
CountyHumboldt
Nearest CityNone
River/StreamEast Fork Alder Creek
Coordinates41.69810, -118.74040

Physical Characteristics

Dam TypeEarth
NID Height54 ft
Dam Height48 ft
Dam Length320 ft

Storage & Hydraulics

NID Storage1,500 acre-ft
Max Storage1,500 acre-ft
Normal Storage1,500 acre-ft
Surface Area101 acres
Drainage Area0 sq mi
Max Discharge3,700 cfs
Spillway TypeUncontrolled

Ownership & Safety

PurposeIrrigation
OwnerALDER CREEK RANCH LLC
Owner TypePrivate
Hazard ClassificationSignificant
Condition AssessmentFair
Last Inspection07/18/2022
Emergency Action PlanYes

Identifiers

NID IDNV00005
Federal IDNV00005
More InfoState Dam Safety Program

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