NDOW Breaches Dam at Beaver Dam State Park for Public Safety

Responding to concerns about the stability of the dam at Beaver Dam State Park in Lincoln County, the Nevada Department of Wildlife (NDOW) has breached the dam to allow the water level of the lake that it impounds to gradually be drawn down.

Mark Fraga, NDOW engineer, said the dam was breached Monday (1/24/05) evening following several days of work. A lightweight track excavator was flown to the dam by a Nevada Army National Guard blackhawk helicopter on Thursday, Jan. 20, to dig the breach.

The dam became a concern when recent rains caused water from Schroeder Reservoir, which it backs up, to flow over the top of the dam. This overtopping and water seeping from the dam’s face drew the concern of the State Engineer’s Office, although the dam was not considered to be in imminent danger of failing.

Fraga said water is being released from the breach at a very gradual rate. No downstream problems are anticipated from the draw down.

The dam was built in 1960 by NDOW (then Nevada Department of Fish and Game) for recreational purposes. It is located approximately 28 miles northeast of Caliente in Beaver Dam State Park, a popular location for trout fishing, camping and hiking.

Schroeder Reservoir was originally 48 feet deep, but silt flowing downstream into the lake has caused its depth to decline to 17 feet. A very large and unstable drainage is above the reservoir.

Fraga said the dam will eventually be taken down to the sediment layer. Future plans for the dam and reservoir have not been determined.

Coordinating the emergency action at the dam were NDOW, the Nevada Army National Guard, Nevada Division of Emergency Management, Nevada Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Nevada Division of State Parks, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, Lincoln County Emergency Management, Clark County Regional Flood Control District and the Clark County Office of Emergency Management.

The Nevada Department of Wildlife is the state agency responsible for the restoration and management of fish and wildlife resources, and the promotion of boating safety on Nevada’s waters. Wildlife offices are located in Las Vegas, Henderson, Ely, Winnemucca, Fallon, Elko, and Reno. For more information, contact the agency web site at www.ndow.org.

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