Reno Will Rehabilitate West Wash Dam by 2028
The City of Reno plans a $19 million project to reinforce aging dam infrastructure against flood risks.
Updated on Oct. 13, 2026 in Home Renovation
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The City of Reno is planning a rehabilitation project for the West Wash Dam, which is currently scheduled to begin in 2028. This effort aims to address geotechnical weaknesses discovered during inspections of the structure, which was originally built in 1960.
Why it matters
The dams have surpassed their 50-year design lifespan and require critical upgrades to prevent failure during a probable maximum flood scenario. Addressing these structural concerns now is essential to ensuring long-term safety for the surrounding Reno area.
The West Wash Dam project is estimated to cost $19 million and will take approximately 3 years to complete once construction begins. The project is funded through a 65% federal match, with the City of Reno required to cover the remaining 35% of the total budget.
The players
City of Reno
The local municipal government responsible for overseeing the rehabilitation project and securing necessary project funding.
Natural Resources Conservation Service
A federal agency that requested additional geotechnical data to be included in the project environmental documentation.
The details
Engineers plan to reinforce the structures and modify spillways to mitigate potential hazards identified in geotechnical analyses. The city has updated its environmental documentation to incorporate additional data requested by the Natural Resources Conservation Service.
Timeline
1960 marked the original construction of the West Wash and East Wash dams.
2021 was the year the first public scoping meeting took place for the project.
October 20, 2026 is the date of a public meeting scheduled at Reno City Hall.
2028 is the anticipated year for construction to begin on the site.
Culture Shift
The rehabilitation of aging public works reflects a broader trend of municipalities prioritizing infrastructure resilience over expansion. This transition highlights a societal shift toward maintaining essential, legacy systems as they reach the end of their original design lifespans.
Residents should anticipate future construction activity near the West Wash Dam, which is located in the vicinity of Keystone Avenue and McCarran Boulevard. Local taxpayers will be directly impacted by the city's 35% funding requirement for the project.
The takeaway
Maintaining aging infrastructure is a proactive measure that prevents catastrophic damage during extreme weather events. Homeowners in the area should stay informed about city environmental findings to better understand local flood risk mitigation efforts.
What happens next
A public meeting regarding the project will be held at Reno City Hall on October 20, 2026, to discuss the draft environmental document.
Further reading
Learn more about local updates at Reno Home Renovation.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Reno News.
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