Built on a rail yard

Excavation Contractors in Sparks, NV

A city laid out on low, swampy ground beside the Truckee River, then pushed north into the hills.

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Low Ground, High Water Table Spots

Excavation contractors in Sparks work in a city that started on wet ground. In 1902 the Southern Pacific bought a large tract of swamp-like land near its new rail yard, the town was founded in 1904 and incorporated on March 15, 1905. A 1950s housing boom filled land north of the railroad, and in the 1970s warehouses and light industry took over the area south of it. Today about 108,445 people live here, and the city keeps growing north.

Groundwater close to the surface

Sparks Marina Park was created on a naturally occurring aquifer. On low lots near the river and the marina, deep trenches and footing digs can meet water sooner than owners expect. We plan pumps, dewatering and quick backfill for those jobs.

Older homes from the 1950s boom

Homes built in the postwar boom north of the tracks are now around 70 years old. Original sewer laterals and water services in those neighborhoods are common replacement jobs, along with regrading yards that have settled toward foundations.

Weather in Sparks

Sparks averages 8.38 inches of precipitation a year across about 45 wet days, and 140.6 nights at or below freezing. Rain totals swing widely: 12.38 inches fell in 2017 and only 3.27 inches in 2013. The single wettest day on record dropped 2.41 inches on October 25, 2021. Pads and drives are graded for those heavy days, not the average.

Industrial neighbors

The Union Pacific rail yard south of I-80 and the warehouse districts mean heavy truck traffic on many streets. Hauling is scheduled to avoid tying up busy corridors.

Common Sparks jobs

Lateral and water line replacement in postwar neighborhoods
Drainage and regrading on flat lots
Shop and RV pads in north Sparks
Dewatered digs on low ground

What to Know in Sparks

Swampy beginnings. In 1902 the Southern Pacific bought a large tract of swamp-like land near its new rail yard; Sparks was founded in 1904 and incorporated March 15, 1905.
Aquifer under the marina. Sparks Marina Park was established on a naturally occurring aquifer in Sparks.
Freeze count. Sparks averages 8.38 inches of precipitation a year and 140.6 days with lows at or below 32 degrees.
Wet and dry years. The wettest year on record was 2017 with 12.38 inches, the driest 2013 with 3.27 inches; the wettest day was 2.41 inches on October 25, 2021.

Our Services in Sparks, NV

Sparks Questions

Is groundwater a problem when digging in Sparks?

On low ground near the river and marina it can be. We check for it on deep digs and plan pumps when needed.

Do you replace sewer laterals in older Sparks homes?

We dig and backfill for lateral replacement and coordinate with your plumber for the connection.

Can you build an RV pad on my north Sparks lot?

Yes, with a compacted base thick enough for the rig and drainage away from the house.

Do you work on industrial sites?

Small commercial pads and yards, yes. Large civil projects are outside our scope.

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