Dam It! North By Northwest, Elko, Nevada

The first part of this page is about the three Elko dams. Just off 5th Street, across from the Elko Athletic Club, there is a monument that dedicates three dams constructed for flood control in Elko. According to the plaque, these dams were completed in 1970 in cooperation of the United States Department of Agriculture, City of Elko and Jiggs Soil Conservation District. One dam is where the pavement ends on north 5th street and one dam is at the monument (5th and Chris Streets). The third is on the south side of town. By the way, bring your own water - they're all dry.

After you have recovered from the excitement of part one, we will move on to the "North by Northwest" part. No, Elko is not the location of Alfred Hitchcock's 1959 film. The streets of Elko are just not north-south and east-west. They were built parallel to the railroad tracks that run roughly parallel to the Humboldt River. The north streets are roughly N42W (see topographic map below). So if it seems that the sun sinks slowly in the ... wrong place - maybe its really ok.

USGS Topographic Map of Elko (1975)

Check this photo out -

USGS Aerial Photograph of Elko (1994)

USGS Aerial Photograph of Eight Mile Dam

USGS Aerial Photograph of Elko Athletic Club Dam

USGS Aerial Photograph of Southside Wash Dam

Click on photos to see original high clarity digital photographs