Lahontan Basin Area Office

Humboldt Project

The primary features of the Humboldt Project developed by Reclamation are the Rye Patch Dam and Reservoir, and Battle Mountain Water Development and Collection System. Rye Patch Dam was completed in 1936 to provide supplemental and carryover storage for use on the Pershing County Water Conservation District irrigated lands. The Humboldt River flows are extremely variable and carryover storage is essential for the 30,000 acres of irrigated lands located near Lovelock, Nevada.

The Humboldt Project Conveyance Act, Title VIII of Public Law 107-282 provides for conveyance of the right, title and interest of the United States in the Humboldt Project, together with associated water rights and improvements to the State of Nevada, the Pershing County Water Conservation District, Lander County, and Pershing County. Much of the 83,530 acres scheduled to be transferred were completed between 2013 and 2017. The lands consisted of portions of Derby Field, Rye Patch Dam and Reservoir, and Battle Mountain Pasture.

Remaining lands for the Humboldt Project include two small appurtenant structures (Iron Point Channel and Upper Slavin Diversion Dam) and approximately 38,000 acres. This effectively means the Humboldt Project is owned or operated and maintained by the Pershing County Water Conservation District, Pershing County, and Lander County.

Facility:  Rye Patch Dam and Reservoir -  Rye Patch Dam and Reservoir are located on theHumboldt River about 26 miles upstream from Lovelock, Nevada. The earthfill, rock-faced dam was completed in 1936 and is 914 feet wide and 75 feet high. The reservoir is 21 miles long and can store 190,000 acre-feet of water. The facility is operated byPershing County Water Conservation District.