Sierra Sage Ponds
Sierra Sage Ponds is an earth dam located in Washoe County, Nevada, built in 1966. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
About Sierra Sage Ponds
The primary purpose of Sierra Sage Ponds is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Washoe County Parks And Recreation (local government). It impounds the Silver Lake-tr near Stead.
The dam stands 16 feet tall and stretches 300 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 5 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 24 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 0 square miles. Completed in 1966, the structure is well into its service life at over 50 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 poor, meaning the dam has recognized safety deficiencies that require remediation to address risks. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 06/01/2023.
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 | Stead |
| River/Stream | Silver Lake-tr |
| Coordinates | 39.63210, -119.89390 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 16 ft |
| Dam Height | 16 ft |
| Dam Length | 300 ft |
| Year Completed | 1966 (60 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 24 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 24 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 15 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 5 acres |
| Drainage Area | 0 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 40 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Controlled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | WASHOE COUNTY PARKS AND RECREATION |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 06/01/2023 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NV10551 |
| Federal ID | NV10551 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |