Juniper Tailings Dam

About Juniper Tailings Dam

The primary purpose of Juniper Tailings Dam is flood risk reduction. The dam is designed to control downstream flooding by temporarily storing excess water during storms and releasing it at a controlled rate. The dam is owned by Nevada Gold Mines Llc (private). It impounds the Rabbit Creek-os near Golconda.

The dam stands 176 feet tall and stretches 22,600 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 770 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 71,000 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 1 square miles. Completed in 1997, the structure is 29 years old.

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 07/27/2021.

At 176 feet, this dam is taller than 99% of all dams in the United States.

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