Giroux Wash Tsf Dam is an earth dam located in White Pine County, Nevada, built in 1995. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 198 ft198 ft tall and 12,600 ft long, taller than 99% of U.S. dams with a recorded height. Height is drawn to scale against the Statue of Liberty, 305 ft ground to torch; the profile is a generic embankment section and the water level is illustrative.
About Giroux Wash Tsf Dam
The primary purpose of Giroux Wash Tsf Dam is tailings. Tailings dams contain waste material from mining operations — typically a slurry of finely ground rock left over after valuable minerals have been extracted. These structures require ongoing monitoring because tailings can contain heavy metals and other contaminants. The dam is owned by Kghm Robinson Nevada Mining Company (private). It impounds the Giroux Wash near Preston.
The dam stands 198 feet tall and stretches 12,600 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 1,850 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 190,224 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 2 square miles. Completed in 1995, the structure is 31 years old.
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 08/04/2022.
At 198 feet, this dam is taller than 99% of all dams in the United States.
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.
Wider Context
White Pine County's 21 documented dams include 5 at this hazard level; this tailings dam is one of 55 such structures across Nevada's federal inventory.
Location
| State | Nevada |
| County | White Pine |
| Nearest City | Preston |
| River/Stream | Giroux Wash |
| Coordinates | 39.22860, -115.04360 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 198 ft |
| Dam Height | 194 ft |
| Dam Length | 12,600 ft |
| Year Completed | 1995 (31 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 190,224 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 190,224 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 190,224 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 1,850 acres |
| Drainage Area | 2 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 7 cfs |
| Spillway Type | None |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Tailings |
| Owner | Kghm Robinson Nevada Mining Company |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 08/04/2022 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NV10437 |
| Federal ID | NV10437 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |