Sun Valley Detention Dam dam
Sun Valley Detention Dam
Sun Valley Detention Dam, located in Sparks, Nevada, along Sun Valley Creek, is a critical infrastructure owned and regulated by the local government with oversight from the Nevada Department of Water Resources. This earth dam stands at a height of 35 feet, with a hydraulic height of 27 feet and a structural height of 50 feet. Its primary purpose is flood risk reduction, serving to protect the surrounding area from potential flooding events.
With a storage capacity of 290 acre-feet and a maximum discharge of 9500 cubic feet per second, Sun Valley Detention Dam plays a crucial role in managing water flow and reducing flood hazards in the region. Despite being classified as having a high hazard potential, the dam's condition assessment was rated as fair during its most recent inspection in July 2021. It is equipped with an uncontrolled spillway, one outlet gate, and covers a surface area of 14 acres.
While the dam's risk assessment indicates a moderate level of risk, ongoing inspections and maintenance ensure that it continues to function effectively in safeguarding the community from potential flood events. The dam's presence highlights the importance of proper water resource management and infrastructure maintenance in mitigating climate-related risks and ensuring the safety and resilience of surrounding areas.
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 Sun Valley Detention Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| N Truckee Drain At Spanish Springs Rd Nr Sparks Nv | 1 cfs | → |
| Truckee R At Reno | 426 cfs | → |
| Truckee R Nr Sparks | 405 cfs | → |
| N Truckee Drain At Kleppe Ln Nr Sparks | 108 cfs | → |
| Steamboat C At Cleanwater Way Nr Reno | 53 cfs | → |
| Truckee R At Vista | 669 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Sun Valley Detention Dam.
Boat launches
- Lockwood Road Washoe County
- Washoe County
- Capt Roberts Boating Site
- Prosser Lake Reservoir
- Lakeshore Boulevard , 89452 Nevada
- Golf Course Outer Trail Carson City
Campgrounds
Fishing spots
Track Sun Valley Detention 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 Sun Valley Detention Dam
Where does the data for Sun Valley Detention 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 Sun Valley Detention Dam.