Howard C. Davis Dam
Howard C. Davis Dam is an earth dam located in Washoe County, Nevada, built in 1945. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification and has a unsatisfactory condition assessment.
About Howard C. Davis Dam
The primary purpose of Howard C. Davis Dam is irrigation. The dam stores and diverts water for agricultural irrigation, supporting farming operations in the surrounding area. The dam is owned by Wop-a-chee Ranch (private). It impounds the Mosquito Lake-tr.
The dam stands 26 feet tall and stretches 612 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 230 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 3,000 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 8 square miles. Completed in 1945, the structure is well-established, with more than 75 years of service.
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 unsatisfactory, indicating serious safety deficiencies exist that require immediate attention or remedial action. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 06/14/2023.
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Location
| State | Nevada |
| County | Washoe |
| Nearest City | None |
| River/Stream | Mosquito Lake-tr |
| Coordinates | 41.82552, -119.80172 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 26 ft |
| Dam Height | 26 ft |
| Dam Length | 612 ft |
| Year Completed | 1945 (81 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 3,000 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 3,000 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 10 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 230 acres |
| Drainage Area | 8 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 850 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Irrigation |
| Owner | WOP-A-CHEE RANCH |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Unsatisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 06/14/2023 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NV00168 |
| Federal ID | NV00168 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |