The City of Reno entered into an agreement with the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) to rehabilitate the West Wash Dam to meet current NRCS, City of Reno, and State of Nevada Division of Water Resources (NDWR) dam safety criteria and performance standards.
DOWL is assisting the City of Reno in meeting the requirements of the NRCS Watershed Program. The first step was to prepare an improvement plan known as the Supplemental Watershed Plan and Environmental Assessment Document for the Peavine Creek-Truckee River Watershed East Wash and West Wash Dam Rehabilitation Project (Plan/ED). This plan is available at the link below and is intended to address the NRCS performance standards and physical, environmental, social, and economic issues in the watershed.
West Wash Dam
West Wash Dam, in the Peavine Mountain Watershed of Washoe County, Nevada, provides provides protection against flooding to more than 30,000 Reno residents, city roads, state and interstate highways, power lines, and railroad tracks.
West Wash Dam was constructed in 1960 under the direction and authority of Watershed Protection and
Flood Prevention Act (Public Law 83-566). East Wash Diversion Dam, constructed in 1960 under the same program, directs storm water flow from the Peavine Mountain Watershed into West Wash Dam. The original watershed plans identified an evaluated life of 50 years for these dams. Having reached over 50 years in age, the dams are eligible for rehabilitation through the NRCS's Watershed and Flood Prevention Operations Program. The goals of the program include prevention of erosion, floodwater and sediment damage; conservation, use and disposal of water; and conservation and proper use of land in authorized watersheds.
Both the West Wash and East Wash dams are currently classified as High Hazard Dams by NDWR. The hazard classification is about the consequence of failure, not how likely the dam is to fail. Even a structurally sound dam can be labeled high hazard if people live or work downstream. Due to the age of the structure, East Wash and West Wash dams do not currently meet today's new requirements for dam safety by the State of Nevada or NRCS.
More Information
West Wash Rehabilitation Project - Public Meeting, October 20, 2026
Reno City Hall Council Chambers, 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm
West Wash Dam Rehabilitation Project - Public Meeting, January 31, 2023
West Wash Dam Rehabilitation Project - Public Meeting, October 19, 2021