North Railroad Detention Basin Dam
North Railroad Detention Basin Dam is an earth dam located in Clark County, Nevada, built in 2007. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
About North Railroad Detention Basin Dam
The primary purpose of North Railroad Detention Basin 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 City Of Boulder (local government). It impounds the Unnamed Wash near Boulder City.
The dam stands 27 feet tall and stretches 1,290 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 9 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 121 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 100 square miles. Completed in 2007, the structure is relatively new.
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 02/27/2024.
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 | Clark |
| Nearest City | Boulder City |
| River/Stream | Unnamed Wash |
| Coordinates | 35.96892, -114.86576 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 27 ft |
| Dam Height | 25 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,290 ft |
| Year Completed | 2007 (19 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 121 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 121 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 9 acres |
| Drainage Area | 100 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 6,500 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | CITY OF BOULDER |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 02/27/2024 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NV10619 |
| Federal ID | NV10619 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |