In advance of the Labor Day holiday, project stakeholders for the Marlette Lake Dam rehabilitation project remind trail users that trail closures are in effect in the Spooner Lake State Park backcountry and the Flume Trail. Public inquiries and questions can be directed to marlettelakedam@gmail.com or 775-391-4119.
Trails leading to and surrounding the area are closed to the public, including:
- North Canyon Road
- Marlette Lake Trail
- Marlette Creek Trail
- Hobart Road from Laxalt Junction to Marlette Lake
- Marlette Dam Trail
- Marlette Flume Trail South from the Rock Slide (see map)
- Marlette Lake Road
- Snow Valley Peak Road
- North Canyon Campground
- Hobbie Leonard Cabin
Additionally, existing closures remain in effect for the following trails due to the East Slope Transmission Main project that is being constructed in concurrence with the Marlette Dam Project:
- Franktown Creek Road
- Snapdragon Trail
- Hanna’s Cabin Trail
- Pipeline Road
- Red House Flume Road
- Lakeview Road
While construction is underway, the Tahoe Rim Trail and Capital to Tahoe Trail will remain open, as well as Hobart Reservoir and Ash Canyon Road.
Visitors are reminded that using closed trails and entering construction zones isstrictly prohibited. Law enforcement will be patrolling the area and issuing tickets to those who do not comply. Access foremergency personnel will remain openthroughout the project.
The Marlette Lake Dam is a critical component of the Marlette Lake Water System, which supplies water to Storey County and Carson City.
The Dam was constructed in 1873 and raised in 1959. Seepage within the dam was first identified during an inspection in 2017 by the Nevada Division of Water Resources, and it was determined that this seepage could eventually lead to a catastrophic failure.
The Marlette Lake Dam Rehabilitation is funded by the FEMA Pre-Disaster Mitigation Fund and will improve the overall safety of the 150-year-old earthen embankment dam and ensure the longevity of the water resource. Environmental and cultural resource surveys were completed in the four-year planning span of the project in coordination with FEMA. The project is planned to end in October 2026.
