Clay No. 1 dam
Clay No. 1
Clay No. 1 is a privately owned Earth dam located in Torrington, Wyoming, along the Mule Creek. Built in 1942 for irrigation purposes, this structure stands at 29 feet high with a hydraulic height of 25 feet and a length of 185 feet. The dam has a storage capacity of 94 acre-feet, providing essential water resources for the surrounding area. Despite its age, Clay No. 1 is in fair condition and poses a low hazard potential, with a moderate risk assessment rating.
Maintained by the Wyoming State Engineer's Office, this dam is regularly inspected and meets state regulatory standards for operation and enforcement. With a spillway width of 300 feet and a single valve outlet gate, the structure is designed to handle controlled water discharge efficiently. In case of emergencies, the dam has a designated inspection frequency of 5 years, ensuring that any potential risks are promptly addressed.
Situated within the Congressional District 00 of Wyoming, Clay No. 1 plays a crucial role in providing water for irrigation, fire protection, stock, and small fish ponds in the region. With its stone core and soil foundation, this dam exemplifies a blend of traditional construction methods and modern engineering practices, safeguarding water resources for the community while maintaining a sustainable and environmentally conscious approach to water management.
Dam data reference
Condition Assessment
- Satisfactory
- No existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. Acceptable performance is expected under all loading conditions (static, hydrologic, seismic) in accordance with the minimum applicable state or federal regulatory criteria or tolerable risk guidelines.
- Fair
- No existing dam safety deficiencies are recognized for normal operating conditions. Rare or extreme hydrologic and/or seismic events may result in a dam safety deficiency. Risk may be in the range to take further action.
- Poor
- A dam safety deficiency is recognized for normal operating conditions which may realistically occur. Remedial action is necessary. POOR may also be used when uncertainties exist as to critical analysis parameters which identify a potential dam safety deficiency.
- Unsatisfactory
- A dam safety deficiency is recognized that requires immediate or emergency remedial action for problem resolution.
- Not Rated
- The dam has not been inspected, is not under state or federal jurisdiction, or has been inspected but, for whatever reason, has not been rated.
Hazard Potential Classification
- High
- Dams assigned the high hazard potential classification are those where failure or mis-operation will probably cause loss of human life.
- Significant
- Dams assigned the significant hazard potential classification are those dams where failure or mis-operation results in no probable loss of human life but can cause economic loss, environmental damage, disruption of lifeline facilities, or impact other concerns. Significant hazard potential classification dams are often located in predominantly rural or agricultural areas but could be in areas with population and significant infrastructure.
- Low
- Dams assigned the low hazard potential classification are those where failure or mis-operation results in no probable loss of human life and low economic and/or environmental losses. Losses are principally limited to the owner's property.
- Undetermined
- Dams for which a downstream hazard potential has not been designated or is not provided.
Plan around the weather
Same NOAA / yr.no feed Snoflo's iOS app uses. Watch the precipitation column on the meteogram -- rain on the basin upstream typically lifts inflow 24-72 hours later.
Next 5 days, hour by hour
Temperature line with weather symbols on top, snow + rain accumulation as columns, humidity as a dotted line.
5-day forecast table
Every 3 hours, broken out across temperature, snow, rain, humidity, and wind. Each cell is colour-coded relative to the column min/max.
| Time | Condition | Temp (°F) | Snow (in) | Rain (in) | Humidity (%) | Wind (mps) | Wind dir |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loading detailed forecast… | |||||||
15-day temperature & precipitation
Daily temperatures, snow, and rain projected over the next two weeks.
Nearby streamflow gauges
USGS streamgauges around Clay No. 1 -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Sybille Creek Ab Mule Creek | 143 cfs | → |
| Sybille Creek Ab Canal No. 3 | 93 cfs | → |
| Laramie River Near Bosler | 1,950 cfs | → |
| Laramie River At Laramie | 118 cfs | → |
| Crow Creek At 19th Street | 3 cfs | → |
| North Platte River Below Whalen Diversion Dam | · | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Clay No. 1.
Boat launches
Campgrounds
- Toaster Wall
- Sugarloaf Trailhead
- Lewis Park Campground
- Lewis Park
- Wheatland Reservoir No. 3/Post Lake Access - Wgf
Fishing spots
- Rock Lake
- Wheatland Reservoir #1
- Wheatland Reservoir #3
- Upper North Crow Reservoir
- Lower North Crow Reservoir
- Granite Springs Reservoir
Paddle runs
Track Clay No. 1 in the Snoflo app
Save this dam as a favorite and get the local NOAA / yr.no forecast plus regional flow context wherever you are.
About Clay No. 1
Where does the data for Clay No. 1 come from?
Structural and regulatory data come from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' National Inventory of Dams (NID). Weather forecast comes from NOAA / yr.no -- the same feed Snoflo's iOS app uses.
How often is the report updated?
NID structural data refreshes annually as the Corps publishes updated assessments. The weather forecast refreshes throughout the day.
What does the Low hazard rating mean?
The Corps of Engineers' hazard potential classification grades probable consequences if the dam fails: High = probable loss of human life; Significant = no probable loss of human life but possible economic loss / environmental damage; Low = no probable loss of human life, only minor economic / environmental losses. See the Dam Data Reference card above for the full definitions.
What's "% of normal"?
The current storage value compared to the historical average storage on this calendar day. 100% = right on average; values above 100% mean above-normal storage (wet year); values below mean below-normal (dry year or drought).
Can I get alerts when storage crosses a threshold?
Yes -- alerts are managed in the Snoflo iOS app. Favorite this dam, set a threshold, and you'll get a push the moment conditions cross.
Other water bodies near here
Snoflo-tracked reservoirs and dams within driving distance of Clay No. 1.