Marlette Lake Dam
Marlette Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Washoe County, Nevada. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
About Marlette Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Marlette Lake Dam is water supply. The dam stores water for municipal, industrial, or agricultural use, helping ensure a reliable supply for the surrounding area. The dam is owned by Nevada Da Buildings And Grounds (state). It impounds the Marlette Creek.
The dam stands 50 feet tall and stretches 290 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 380 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 12,700 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 4 square miles.
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 09/13/2023.
At 50 feet, this dam is taller than 93% 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.
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 | None |
| River/Stream | Marlette Creek |
| Coordinates | 39.17298, -119.90709 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 50 ft |
| Dam Height | 48 ft |
| Dam Length | 290 ft |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 12,700 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 12,700 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 10,400 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 380 acres |
| Drainage Area | 4 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 650 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Water Supply |
| Owner | NEVADA DA BUILDINGS AND GROUNDS |
| Owner Type | State |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 09/13/2023 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NV00069 |
| Federal ID | NV00069 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |