Bull Run Dam is an earth dam located in Elko County, Nevada, built in 1955. It carries a Low hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 40 ft40 ft tall and 541 ft long, taller than 86% of U.S. dams with a recorded height. Height is drawn to scale against a two-story house, about 25 ft; the profile is a generic embankment section and the water level is illustrative.
About Bull Run Dam
The primary purpose of Bull Run Dam is irrigation. The dam stores and diverts water for agricultural irrigation, supporting farming operations in the surrounding area. The dam is owned by Petan Company of Nevada Inc (private). It impounds the Bull Run Creek.
The dam stands 40 feet tall and stretches 541 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 106 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 1,250 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 60 square miles. Completed in 1955, 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 poor, meaning the dam has recognized safety deficiencies that require remediation to address risks. The most recent inspection on record was 07/24/2023.
At 40 feet, this dam is taller than 86% of dams nationwide.
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Location
| State | Nevada |
| County | Elko |
| Nearest City | None |
| River/Stream | Bull Run Creek |
| Coordinates | 41.63818, -116.15345 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 40 ft |
| Dam Height | 37 ft |
| Dam Length | 541 ft |
| Year Completed | 1955 (71 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 1,250 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 1,250 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 1,000 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 106 acres |
| Drainage Area | 60 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 1,500 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Irrigation |
| Owner | Petan Company of Nevada Inc |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | Low |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 07/24/2023 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Not Required |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NV00037 |
| Federal ID | NV00037 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |