Rawhide Dam is an earth dam located in Elko County, Nevada, built in 1954. It carries a Low hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 35 ft35 ft tall and 329 ft long, taller than 80% 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 Rawhide Dam
The primary purpose of Rawhide 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 35 feet tall and stretches 329 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 147 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 1,540 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 129 square miles. Completed in 1954, 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. The most recent inspection on record was 07/25/2023.
At 35 feet, this dam is taller than 80% of dams nationwide.
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Location
| State | Nevada |
| County | Elko |
| Nearest City | None |
| River/Stream | Bull Run Creek |
| Coordinates | 41.72453, -116.34195 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 35 ft |
| Dam Height | 35 ft |
| Dam Length | 329 ft |
| Year Completed | 1954 (72 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 1,540 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 1,540 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 1,500 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 147 acres |
| Drainage Area | 129 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 2,800 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Controlled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Irrigation |
| Owner | Petan Company of Nevada Inc |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | Low |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 07/25/2023 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Not Required |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NV00045 |
| Federal ID | NV00045 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |