State speeds up plan to drain reservoir for repairs

RENO — State officials have decided to close and drain a reservoir in eastern Nevada to expedite repairs and eliminate potentially dangerous conditions at the 89-yearold Cave Creek Dam sooner than originally was planned.

Cave Lake will be closed to visitors when the draining starts in late October or early November, the Nevada Department of Wildlife said Wednesday.

Engineers originally planned to maintain a minimum pool that would allow repairs to the 83-foot tall dam be done without draining the White Pine County lake near the Utah line.

The new approach will reduce dangers for contractors working in high-risk elements, allow the project to be completed possibly in one season and reduce potential for unforeseen complications, providing a cost savings, NDOW officials said.

“Draining the lake is the safest, fastest and most cost-efficient way to ensure all Nevadans and visitors can continue to enjoy the recreational benefits that Cave Lake State Park has to offer in the near future,” NDOW chief engineer Rodd Lighthouse said.

An Associated Press investigation published in 2019 identified the dam as one of at least 1,680 dams nationwide in poor or unsatisfactory condition and rated as a high hazard because of the potential for loss of life if they failed.

A state inspection in June 2018 rated its condition “poor,” noting the spillway may be undersized and that the “spillway capacity may need to be increased to safely pass large storm events.”

State engineers completed initial repairs in January 2020 after identifying concerns about the aging structure’s ability to handle a big storm event. They also discovered a small whirlpool that could be unsafe to swimmers and boaters.