Pabco Dam Tailings Pond 9 dam
Pabco Dam Tailings Pond 9
Pabco Dam Tailings Pond 9, located in Clark, Nevada, is a privately-owned structure primarily used for tailings storage. The earth-type dam, completed in 1969, stands at a height of 20 feet and has a hydraulic height of 17 feet. With a normal storage capacity of 52 acre-feet and a total storage of 104 acre-feet, this dam plays a crucial role in managing the tailings from mining activities in the area. Despite its low hazard potential, the dam's condition assessment was reported as poor during the last inspection in April 2018.
Situated along the Colorado River, this dam lacks a spillway and has one other controlled outlet gate. The risk assessment categorizes the dam as having a high risk level (2), indicating a need for increased monitoring and potential risk management measures. While the structure has been regulated, permitted, and inspected by the Nevada Division of Water Resources, its condition and risk profile highlight the importance of ongoing assessment and maintenance to ensure the safety and integrity of the dam and surrounding area. For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Pabco Dam Tailings Pond 9 offers a fascinating case study in managing industrial byproducts while balancing environmental risks and regulatory compliance.
Overall, Pabco Dam Tailings Pond 9 serves as a critical infrastructure for storing mining tailings in Nevada. With its design dating back to the late 1960s, the dam's structural integrity and risk management strategies are crucial considerations for the local community and environmental stakeholders. As a privately-owned facility, ongoing monitoring, assessment, and potential improvements are essential to mitigate risks and ensure the safe operation of the dam. By understanding the unique challenges and characteristics of this dam, water resource and climate enthusiasts can gain valuable insights into the intersection of industrial activities, water resources management, and environmental protection 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 Pabco Dam Tailings Pond 9 -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Lv Wash Blw Lake Las Vegas Nr Boulder City Nv | 381 cfs | → |
| Las Vegas Wash Overflow At Lake Las Vegas Inlet | · | → |
| Lv Wash Ab Three Kids Wash Blw Henderson | 347 cfs | → |
| Sloan Channel At Charleston Blvd Nr Las Vegas | 1 cfs | → |
| Las Vegas Wash At Vegas Valley Dr Nr Las Vegas | 68 cfs | → |
| Las Vegas Wash At Pabco Rd Nr Henderson | 369 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Pabco Dam Tailings Pond 9.
Boat launches
- Boulder Harbor Launch Ramp
- Horsepower Cove Clark County
- 1/3 Mile Trail Clark County
- Echo Bay Launch Ramp
Track Pabco Dam Tailings Pond 9 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 Pabco Dam Tailings Pond 9
Where does the data for Pabco Dam Tailings Pond 9 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 Pabco Dam Tailings Pond 9.