Rainbow Detention Basin Dam is an earth dam located in Clark County, Nevada, built in 2002. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 41 ft41 ft tall and 1,000 ft long, taller than 87% of U.S. dams with a recorded height. Height is drawn to scale against a two-story house, about 25 ft; the profile is a generic embankment section and the water level is illustrative.
About Rainbow Detention Basin Dam
The primary purpose of Rainbow 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 Las Vegas (local government). It impounds the Las Vegas Wash-tr near Las Vegas.
The dam stands 41 feet tall and stretches 1,000 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 5 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 134 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 27 square miles. Completed in 2002, the structure is relatively new.
This dam has a significant hazard potential classification, meaning that a failure could cause significant economic damage — flooding roads, bridges, or property downstream — but is not expected to result in loss of life. 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 03/05/2020.
At 41 feet, this dam is taller than 87% of dams nationwide.
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Location
| State | Nevada |
| County | Clark |
| Nearest City | Las Vegas |
| River/Stream | Las Vegas Wash-tr |
| Coordinates | 36.17446, -115.24352 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 41 ft |
| Dam Height | 41 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,000 ft |
| Year Completed | 2002 (24 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 134 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 134 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 5 acres |
| Drainage Area | 27 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 1,763 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | City of Las Vegas |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 03/05/2020 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NV10730 |
| Federal ID | NV10730 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |