Bourne Reservoir Dam

About Bourne Reservoir Dam

The primary purpose of Bourne Reservoir Dam is fish and wildlife pond. The dam creates habitat for fish and wildlife, supporting local ecosystems and potentially serving conservation goals. The dam is owned by Horowitz & Bourne (private). It impounds the Mcfaul Creek.

The dam stands 34 feet tall and stretches 140 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 4 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 40 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 3 square miles. Completed in 1997, the structure is 29 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 09/13/2023.

At 34 feet, this dam is taller than 80% 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.

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