Derby Diversion Dam
National Register of Historic Places

Derby Diversion Dam

Sparks, Storey County, Nevada
Listed
April 25, 1978
Type
Structure
Period
Civil War
Ref No.
78001727

About this property

Derby Dam is a diversion dam built from 1903 to 1905 on the Truckee River, located about 20 miles (32 km) east of Reno in Storey and Washoe counties in Nevada, United States. It diverts water into the Truckee Canal that would otherwise enter Pyramid Lake. The canal feeds Lake Lahontan reservoir in the Carson River watershed, where it is used for irrigation. It was the first project of the newly organized U.S. Reclamation Service (known today as the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation), organized by the Reclamation Act of 1902. As a result of the diversion, Winnemucca Lake lost inflow and dried up, and Pyramid Lake lost more than 80 feet (24 m) in elevation, resulting in the near-extinction of the Lahontan cutthroat trout. The dam is operated by the Truckee-Carson Irrigation District. It was named after the Derby Southern Pacific Railroad station.

Location

Sparks, Storey County, Nevada
39.58582, -119.44802

Categories

AGRICULTURECONSERVATIONENGINEERING
National Register nomination ›
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

Unlimited access

Everything a full report reveals about Derby Diversion Dam

This page lists Derby Diversion Dam. A full Aubrey report for an address near it pulls together this listing alongside battlefield records, land patents, and every other historical record within a chosen radius:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
First month just $5.99, then $11.99 a month. Unlimited locations, cancel anytime.

Every location is different. Not every section appears for every place, only what the historical record actually holds turns up in a report.

Start your Derby Diversion Dam report
Or see a real report first

Nearby Historic Sites

Wadsworth Union Church
Civil War
9.4 mi
Fernley Community Church
Industrial
10.5 mi
Fernley and Lassen Railway Depot
Industrial
11.3 mi
Immaculate Conception Church
Industrial
16.5 mi
Nichols, Mary Lee, School
Industrial
16.6 mi

Nearby Battles

Pyramid Lake War Skirmishes (1860)
1860Indian Wars
4.7 mi
Battle of Pinnacle Mount — Nevada (1860)
1860Indian Wars
12.4 mi
Williams Station Massacre
1860Indian Wars
13.6 mi

Questions about this property

When was Derby Diversion Dam listed on the National Register?

Derby Diversion Dam was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on April 25, 1978.

What type of historic resource is Derby Diversion Dam?

Derby Diversion Dam is classified as a structure in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Derby Diversion Dam?

The period of significance for Derby Diversion Dam is recorded as the civil_war era, specifically around 1903.

Can I research the history near Derby Diversion Dam?

Yes. Aubrey Research reports search National Register listings, battlefield records, land patents, and other primary historical sources within any radius of a US address. A report for an address near Derby Diversion Dam will include this listing and all other historical records in the area.

More in Storey County

Historic places, battles, and census history across Storey County.

Explore StoreyCounty ›

More historic places in Nevada

Browse all historic places in Nevada.

View Nevadahistoric sites ›

Conflict records

Explore 19,000+ military engagements across American history.

Browse US conflicts ›

Nevada history

Colonial settlement, territorial period, and statehood narrative.

Nevadahistory ›

Research the history near this site

An Aubrey US report for an address near Derby Diversion Dam will include this listing alongside battlefield records and other historical sources within your chosen radius.

Research your locationView a free sample report