Sheep Camp Detention Dam
Sheep Camp Detention Dam is an earth dam located in Lyon County, Nevada. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
About Sheep Camp Detention Dam
The primary purpose of Sheep Camp Detention 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 Lyon County (local government). It impounds the Carson River-tr near Dayton.
The dam stands 16 feet tall and stretches 300 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 5 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 25 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 1 square miles.
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 11/15/2023.
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 | Lyon |
| Nearest City | Dayton |
| River/Stream | Carson River-tr |
| Coordinates | 39.27082, -119.59285 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 16 ft |
| Dam Height | 16 ft |
| Dam Length | 300 ft |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 25 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 25 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 5 acres |
| Drainage Area | 1 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 50 cfs |
| Spillway Type | None |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | LYON COUNTY |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 11/15/2023 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NV10638 |
| Federal ID | NV10638 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |