Washoe Lake Dam on a breach watch; flood precautions in place

After a routine inspection of the Washoe Lake Dam Monday it was determined that the dam was in danger of potentially breaching. Experts arrived on site and conducted an analysis mitigation for the last several hours. Due to this examination, the Washoe Lake Dam threat has been downgraded from imminent threat to a watch.

If the dam breached, the Steamboat Creek and Steamboat Ditch areas would be flooded. Due to this threat, residents were asked in these and surrounding areas, to be prepared to evacuate when notified.

Working in collaboration with partners, work is ongoing to slow the leak at the dam site, by utilizing varying sizes of rock to plug the leak, therefore reducing the threat of low-level flooding. The work to the dam is being overseen by the Nevada State Engineers Office of Dam Safety.

The watch will be in effect until further notice with state and county officials monitoring continuously. All precautions are in place, including sand and sandbag locations, which can be found on the Washoe County website, by visiting this page or clicking here: https://www.washoecounty.us/outreach/2018/06/2018-06-18-potential-breach.php.

Sandbags are now available:

Washoe County Operations Yard, 3101 Longley Lane, Reno
Highland Ranch Parkway, one mile west of Pyramid Hwy, Sparks
Truckee Meadows Fire Protection District Station #30 at 3905 Old Hwy 395, Washoe Valley
Gander Lane and Eastlake Blvd. in Washoe Valley
Paddlewheel and Andrew Lanes in Pleasant Valley
Toll Road and Geiger Grade
Truckee Meadows Fire Lemmon Valley Volunteer Station #223 at 130 Nectar Street
Arizona and Lemmon Drive in Lemmon Valley
Blue Heron/ Warrior Lane in Belli Ranch Area
TMFPD Hidden Valley Fire Station
Red Rock Volunteer Fire Station