(May 31, 2023) At the Nevada Irrigation District, dam safety is a priority. Workers continually monitor and conduct inspections to ensure dams are functioning as designed.  

“NID’s dam safety program requires we have staff available to respond to emergencies or unusual conditions 24/7/365. Also, our employees conduct weekly inspections as conditions permit, and perform formal, detailed inspections monthly looking for anything unusual,” said Keane Sommers, the District's Director of Power Systems.

NID owns and operates 15 dams under the jurisdiction of the California Department of Water Resources Division of Safety of Dams (DSOD). Most of these dams are also under the jurisdiction of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC).

Each year, the District releases a Dam Safety Report that lists and describes activities performed in the prior year. This includes details about assessments, improvements, significant modifications, safety training, and more.

To read the 2022 report, visit the NID dam safety webpage, or click here to read the report (pdf).

To learn more about each of the many dams, visit the NID infrastructure pages; click here.

May 31 is National Dam Safety Awareness Day. Dams are a critical part of the nation’s infrastructure—equal in importance to bridges, roads, airports, and other major elements of infrastructure.