Town Wash Dam dam
Town Wash Dam
Town Wash Dam, also known as Jim Wilson Detention Basin, is a concrete structure located in Mesquite, Nevada, designed primarily for flood risk reduction along the Town Wash river. Completed in 1992, the dam stands at a height of 41 feet with a hydraulic height of 32 feet, providing a storage capacity of 485 acre-feet. With a structural height of 45 feet and a length of 900 feet, the dam plays a crucial role in mitigating the high hazard potential posed by potential flooding in the region.
Managed by the local government and regulated by the Nevada Department of Water Resources, Town Wash Dam has been assessed to be in fair condition during its most recent inspection in February 2022. Despite its fair condition, the dam's emergency action plan status and risk assessment have not been updated recently, highlighting the importance of regular monitoring and maintenance to ensure its effectiveness in flood risk reduction. With an uncontrolled spillway and one outlet gate, the dam serves as a critical infrastructure for the community's safety and well-being.
In the face of changing climate patterns and increasing water resource challenges, Town Wash Dam stands as a vital asset in protecting the residents of Mesquite from potential flooding events. As climate enthusiasts and water resource advocates, it is imperative to support ongoing efforts to maintain and improve the dam's infrastructure to enhance its resilience and effectiveness in safeguarding the community against flood risks.
Dam data reference
Condition Assessment
- Satisfactory
- No existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. Acceptable performance is expected under all loading conditions (static, hydrologic, seismic) in accordance with the minimum applicable state or federal regulatory criteria or tolerable risk guidelines.
- Fair
- No existing dam safety deficiencies are recognized for normal operating conditions. Rare or extreme hydrologic and/or seismic events may result in a dam safety deficiency. Risk may be in the range to take further action.
- Poor
- A dam safety deficiency is recognized for normal operating conditions which may realistically occur. Remedial action is necessary. POOR may also be used when uncertainties exist as to critical analysis parameters which identify a potential dam safety deficiency.
- Unsatisfactory
- A dam safety deficiency is recognized that requires immediate or emergency remedial action for problem resolution.
- Not Rated
- The dam has not been inspected, is not under state or federal jurisdiction, or has been inspected but, for whatever reason, has not been rated.
Hazard Potential Classification
- High
- Dams assigned the high hazard potential classification are those where failure or mis-operation will probably cause loss of human life.
- Significant
- Dams assigned the significant hazard potential classification are those dams where failure or mis-operation results in no probable loss of human life but can cause economic loss, environmental damage, disruption of lifeline facilities, or impact other concerns. Significant hazard potential classification dams are often located in predominantly rural or agricultural areas but could be in areas with population and significant infrastructure.
- Low
- Dams assigned the low hazard potential classification are those where failure or mis-operation results in no probable loss of human life and low economic and/or environmental losses. Losses are principally limited to the owner's property.
- Undetermined
- Dams for which a downstream hazard potential has not been designated or is not provided.
Plan around the weather
Same NOAA / yr.no feed Snoflo's iOS app uses. Watch the precipitation column on the meteogram -- rain on the basin upstream typically lifts inflow 24-72 hours later.
Next 5 days, hour by hour
Temperature line with weather symbols on top, snow + rain accumulation as columns, humidity as a dotted line.
5-day forecast table
Every 3 hours, broken out across temperature, snow, rain, humidity, and wind. Each cell is colour-coded relative to the column min/max.
| Time | Condition | Temp (°F) | Snow (in) | Rain (in) | Humidity (%) | Wind (mps) | Wind dir |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loading detailed forecast… | |||||||
15-day temperature & precipitation
Daily temperatures, snow, and rain projected over the next two weeks.
Nearby streamflow gauges
USGS streamgauges around Town Wash Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Beaver Dam Wash At Beaver Dam | 7 cfs | → |
| Virgin R At Littlefield | 81 cfs | → |
| Virgin R Abv The Narrows Nr Littlefield | 43 cfs | → |
| Virgin River Near St. George | 52 cfs | → |
| Muddy R At Lewis Avenue At Overton | 39 cfs | → |
| Muddy R Nr Glendale | 40 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Town Wash Dam.
Campgrounds
Fishing spots
Track Town Wash Dam in the Snoflo app
Save this dam as a favorite and get the local NOAA / yr.no forecast plus regional flow context wherever you are.
About Town Wash Dam
Where does the data for Town Wash Dam come from?
Structural and regulatory data come from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' National Inventory of Dams (NID). Weather forecast comes from NOAA / yr.no -- the same feed Snoflo's iOS app uses.
How often is the report updated?
NID structural data refreshes annually as the Corps publishes updated assessments. The weather forecast refreshes throughout the day.
What does the High hazard rating mean?
The Corps of Engineers' hazard potential classification grades probable consequences if the dam fails: High = probable loss of human life; Significant = no probable loss of human life but possible economic loss / environmental damage; Low = no probable loss of human life, only minor economic / environmental losses. See the Dam Data Reference card above for the full definitions.
What's "% of normal"?
The current storage value compared to the historical average storage on this calendar day. 100% = right on average; values above 100% mean above-normal storage (wet year); values below mean below-normal (dry year or drought).
Can I get alerts when storage crosses a threshold?
Yes -- alerts are managed in the Snoflo iOS app. Favorite this dam, set a threshold, and you'll get a push the moment conditions cross.
Other water bodies near here
Snoflo-tracked reservoirs and dams within driving distance of Town Wash Dam.