Las Vegas Wash Upper Detention Basin Dam dam
Las Vegas Wash Upper Detention Basin Dam
The Las Vegas Wash Upper Detention Basin Dam is a crucial structure designed by Black & Veatch to manage flood risk along the Las Vegas Wash in North Las Vegas, Nevada. Completed in 1993, this earth dam stands at a height of 55 feet and has a structural height of 71 feet, with a capacity to store up to 1760 acre-feet of water. The dam's primary purpose is flood risk reduction, serving as a vital infrastructure to protect the surrounding areas from potential inundation during heavy rainfall events.
Located in Clark County, Nevada, the Las Vegas Wash Upper Detention Basin Dam plays a significant role in the region's water resource management. With a drainage area of 516 square miles and a maximum discharge capacity of 180,750 cubic feet per second, this dam is equipped with uncontrolled spillways and outlet gates to regulate water flow. Despite being classified as having a high hazard potential, the dam's condition assessment in 2021 rated it as fair, emphasizing the importance of regular inspections and maintenance to ensure its continued effectiveness in flood control.
Overall, the Las Vegas Wash Upper Detention Basin Dam stands as a critical piece of infrastructure in safeguarding the community against flooding events along the Las Vegas Wash. With its strategic design and capacity to store excess water, this earth dam serves as a key asset in mitigating flood risks and protecting the surrounding areas from potential inundation, highlighting the importance of proactive water resource and climate management practices in the region.
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 Las Vegas Wash Upper Detention Basin Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Sloan Channel Tr At Las Vegas Blvd Nr N Las Vegas | · | → |
| Sloan Channel At Charleston Blvd Nr Las Vegas | 1 cfs | → |
| Flamingo Wash At Nellis Blvd Nr Las Vegas | 4 cfs | → |
| Las Vegas Wash Nr Sahara Ave Nr Las Vegas | 2 cfs | → |
| Lv Wash Blw Flamingo Wash Confl Nr Las Vegas | 212 cfs | → |
| Las Vegas Wash At Vegas Valley Dr Nr Las Vegas | 68 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Las Vegas Wash Upper Detention Basin Dam.
Track Las Vegas Wash Upper Detention Basin 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 Las Vegas Wash Upper Detention Basin Dam
Where does the data for Las Vegas Wash Upper Detention Basin 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 Las Vegas Wash Upper Detention Basin Dam.