Comins Lake Dam dam
Comins Lake Dam
Comins Lake Dam, located in ELY, Nevada, is a State-regulated structure with a primary purpose of serving as a Fish and Wildlife Pond. The dam is an Earth type with a height of 17 feet and a hydraulic height of 14 feet. It has a maximum storage capacity of 300 acre-feet and covers a surface area of 80 acres. The dam is situated on the STEPTOE CREEK-OS river and is owned by the State of Nevada.
Despite being classified as having a significant hazard potential, the condition assessment of Comins Lake Dam is rated as fair as of the last inspection in May 2019. The dam features an uncontrolled spillway with a width of 4 feet and is equipped with a Slide (sluice gate) outlet gate. The risk assessment for the dam is considered moderate, with a risk level of 3.
Comins Lake Dam provides essential irrigation, recreation, and fish and wildlife habitat benefits to the surrounding area. Managed by the Nevada Division of Water Resources, the dam plays a crucial role in maintaining the ecological balance and water resources in White Pine County. Enthusiasts of water resources and climate will find Comins Lake Dam an intriguing structure that contributes to the conservation and sustainability of the region's natural resources.
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 Comins Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Steptoe C Nr Ely | 3 cfs | → |
| Water Canyon Cr Nr Preston Nv | 1 cfs | → |
| Cleve C Nr Ely | 6 cfs | → |
| Preston Big Spring Nr Preston Nv | 9 cfs | → |
| Lehman Creek Near Baker | 3 cfs | → |
| Big Spring Nr Duckwater | 14 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Comins Lake Dam.
Campgrounds
- Ely Elk Viewing Area - Recreation Site
- Cave Lake State Park
- Ward Mountain
- Ward Mountain Campground
- Ward Charcoal Ovens State Park
- Ward Mountain Recreation Area
Paddle runs
- Headwaters, Includes N Fork And Main Fork To T20n,R66e, Sec 17
- Headwaters To Mt Moriah Wilderness Boundary
- Wilderness Boundary To Trailhead/Roads End
- Headwaters To Eastern Boundary Of Great Basin National Park
- T15n,R58e,Sec 7 To T15n,R57e,Sec 20
- Trailhead To Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest Boundary
Track Comins Lake 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 Comins Lake Dam
Where does the data for Comins Lake 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 Significant 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 Comins Lake Dam.