Wild Horse dam
Wild Horse
Wild Horse is a concrete dam located in Elko, Nevada, along the East Fork Owyhee River. Built in 1969 by the USDI BOR, the dam stands at 116 feet tall with a length of 458 feet, providing flood risk reduction for the surrounding area. The reservoir created by Wild Horse has a storage capacity of 95,235 acre-feet, with a normal storage level of 72,000 acre-feet and a surface area of 3,035 acres.
Managed by the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Wild Horse serves multiple purposes including fish and wildlife pond, flood risk reduction, irrigation, and recreation. The dam features an uncontrolled spillway with a width of 75 feet and two outlet gates for water release. With a high hazard potential and moderate risk assessment, Wild Horse undergoes inspections every 5 years to ensure its structural integrity and safety. Although the condition assessment is currently not available, emergency action plans are in place to mitigate any potential risks associated with the dam.
Wild Horse not only plays a crucial role in managing water resources but also provides recreational opportunities for the local community. As a key structure in the Sacramento District, the dam's impact on the surrounding environment and its ability to withstand potential hazards are closely monitored to ensure the safety and well-being of all those who rely on its services.
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 Wild Horse -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Owyhee R Nr Gold Creek | 111 cfs | → |
| Owyhee R Nr Mountain City | 120 cfs | → |
| Bruneau River At Rowland Nv | 21 cfs | → |
| Jarbidge River Below Jarbidge | 15 cfs | → |
| Marys River Below Orange Bridge Nr Charleston Nv | 8 cfs | → |
| N F Humboldt R At Devils Gate Nr Halleck | 8 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Wild Horse.
Campgrounds
- North Wildhorse Campground
- Wild Horse Rec Area 3
- Wild Horse Rec Area 4
- Wild Horse Rec Area 2
- Wild Horse Rec Area 1
- Wild Horse Crossing
Track Wild Horse 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 Wild Horse
Where does the data for Wild Horse 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 Wild Horse.