North Spanish Springs Flood Sediment Basin Dam

About North Spanish Springs Flood Sediment Basin Dam

The primary purpose of North Spanish Springs Flood Sediment Basin Dam is debris control. The dam is designed to catch sediment, rocks, and debris carried by flowing water — particularly important in areas prone to mudslides or heavy erosion. The dam is owned by Washoe County (local government). It impounds the North Truckee Drain-tr near Sparks.

The dam stands 16 feet tall and stretches 400 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 13 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 114 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 15 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 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.

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