Aaron Way Detention Basin Dam dam
Aaron Way Detention Basin Dam
Located in Boulder City, Nevada, the Aaron Way Detention Basin Dam, also known as Ville Drive Flood Improvements, was completed in 1992 to serve as a crucial tool for flood risk reduction in the area. The dam is primarily owned and regulated by the local government, with the Nevada Department of Water Resources overseeing its permitting, inspection, and enforcement processes. With a height of 30 feet and a length of 190 feet, the earth dam is designed to withstand the high hazard potential associated with its location on Hemenway Wash.
The dam features an uncontrolled spillway, with a width of 72 feet, and an uncontrolled outlet gate. Its maximum storage capacity is 21 acre-feet, serving a drainage area of 0.3 square miles. Despite being rated as having a fair condition, the dam is subject to regular inspections and maintenance, with the last assessment conducted in May 2021. With a moderate risk assessment score of 3, the Aaron Way Detention Basin Dam remains a critical infrastructure for managing floodwaters and protecting the surrounding community from potential disaster.
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 Aaron Way Detention Basin Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Las Vegas Wash Overflow At Lake Las Vegas Inlet | · | → |
| Lv Wash Ab Three Kids Wash Blw Henderson | 204 cfs | → |
| Lv Wash Blw Lake Las Vegas Nr Boulder City Nv | 251 cfs | → |
| Las Vegas Wash At Pabco Rd Nr Henderson | 269 cfs | → |
| Duck Ck At Broadbent Blvd At East Las Vegas | 9 cfs | → |
| Las Vegas Wash At Vegas Valley Dr Nr Las Vegas | 20 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Aaron Way Detention Basin Dam.
Boat launches
Campgrounds
- Campsite
- Boulder Beach Rv - Lake Mead National Rec Area
- Boulder Beach Campground
- Boxcar Canyon Dispersed - Lake Mead Nra
- Las Vegas Bay Campground
- Government Wash Dispersed - Lake Mead Nra
Fishing spots
Track Aaron Way Detention Basin 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 Aaron Way Detention Basin Dam
Where does the data for Aaron Way Detention Basin 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 Aaron Way Detention Basin Dam.