Upper Holy Lake Reservoir Dam dam
Upper Holy Lake Reservoir Dam
The Upper Holy Lake Reservoir Dam, located in Washoe County, Nevada, was completed in 1917 and serves primarily for irrigation purposes. This private dam, standing at a height of 8 feet and with a length of 361 feet, holds a maximum storage capacity of 92 acre-feet and covers a surface area of 31 acres. Situated along Baker Creek, the dam is regulated by the Nevada Department of Water Resources, with state permitting, inspection, and enforcement in place to ensure its safety and compliance with regulations.
Despite its low hazard potential, the dam's condition assessment in 2017 was deemed unsatisfactory, prompting a moderate risk assessment rating. The presence of an uncontrolled spillway, with a width of 14 feet, adds to the risk factor. With a capacity for a maximum discharge of 140 cubic feet per second, the dam is equipped with a single valve outlet gate for water release. While the dam's emergency action plan status and risk management measures are unclear, ongoing monitoring and maintenance are crucial to mitigate potential hazards and ensure the safety of downstream communities and ecosystems.
Enthusiasts of water resources and climate change will find the Upper Holy Lake Reservoir Dam an intriguing subject for study and analysis. Its historical significance, structural design, and operational challenges provide valuable insights into the intersection of human infrastructure with natural water systems. As efforts to address climate-related risks and enhance dam safety continue to evolve, this dam serves as a case study in balancing water resource management for agricultural needs with environmental stewardship and community resilience in the face of changing climatic conditions.
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 Upper Holy Lake Reservoir Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Sf Pit R Nr Likely Ca | 124 cfs | → |
| Mahogany Creek Near Summit Lake | 2 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Upper Holy Lake Reservoir Dam.
Boat launches
Campgrounds
Track Upper Holy Lake Reservoir 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 Upper Holy Lake Reservoir Dam
Where does the data for Upper Holy Lake Reservoir 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 Low 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 Upper Holy Lake Reservoir Dam.