Silver Creek Dam dam
Silver Creek Dam
Silver Creek Dam, located in White Pine, Nevada, was completed in 1956 and is primarily used for irrigation purposes. The dam is an earth structure with a height of 36 feet and a length of 722 feet, impounding the waters of Silver Creek. With a maximum storage capacity of 150 acre-feet and a normal storage of 120 acre-feet, the dam serves the surrounding agricultural community by providing water for irrigation.
Despite its fair condition assessment in 2021, Silver Creek Dam has a high hazard potential, indicating the importance of regular inspections and maintenance. The dam features an uncontrolled spillway with a width of 16 feet and one slide (sluice gate) outlet gate. The risk assessment for the dam is moderate, with a ranking of 3 out of 5, highlighting the need for continued monitoring and risk management measures to ensure the safety and integrity of the structure.
Owned privately and regulated by the Nevada Division of Water Resources, Silver Creek Dam plays a crucial role in water resource management in the region. With its strategic location on Silver Creek and its capacity to store and release water as needed for irrigation, the dam stands as a key infrastructure supporting the agricultural activities in the area. As a focal point for water resource and climate enthusiasts, Silver Creek Dam presents a fascinating case study in dam engineering and management in the arid landscapes of Nevada.
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 Silver Creek Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Lehman Creek Near Baker | 3 cfs | → |
| Cleve C Nr Ely | 6 cfs | → |
| Steptoe C Nr Ely | 3 cfs | → |
| Water Canyon Cr Nr Preston Nv | 1 cfs | → |
| Trout Creek Near Callao | 2 cfs | → |
| Granite Creek Near Callao | 0 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Silver Creek Dam.
Campgrounds
- Whispering Elms Campground
- Lower Lehman - Great Basin National Park
- Lower Lehman Creek
- Upper Lehman - Great Basin National Park
- Upper Lehman Creek
- Sacramento Pass Recreation Area
Paddle runs
- Headwaters To Mt Moriah Wilderness Boundary
- Trailhead To Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest Boundary
- Wilderness Boundary To Trailhead/Roads End
- Headwaters To Eastern Boundary Of Great Basin National Park
- Headwaters, Includes N Fork And Main Fork To T20n,R66e, Sec 17
Track Silver Creek 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 Silver Creek Dam
Where does the data for Silver Creek 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 Silver Creek Dam.