Clearwater dam
Clearwater
Clearwater, located in Albany, Wyoming, is a privately owned dam with a primary purpose of irrigation. Completed in 1950, this Earth-type dam stands at 26 feet high and stretches 471 feet in length, with a storage capacity of 68 acre-feet. Despite its low hazard potential, the dam's condition assessment is marked as poor, indicating a need for maintenance and improvements to ensure its long-term stability.
The Clearwater dam, situated on the Clearwater River, is regulated and inspected by the Wyoming State Engineer's Office. With a spillway width of 50 feet and an uncontrolled spillway type, the dam poses a moderate risk (rated 3) in terms of potential hazards. Although the last inspection in May 2021 revealed a poor condition, the dam's emergency action plan status and risk management measures remain undisclosed, suggesting a need for further evaluation and preparedness in the event of an emergency.
Water resource and climate enthusiasts interested in the Clearwater dam's role in irrigation and its impact on the surrounding area should take note of its location in Torrington, Wyoming. With its structural height matching its dam height at 26 feet, this dam serves multiple purposes including fire protection, stock watering, and small fish ponds. As efforts to address the dam's poor condition and moderate risk continue, stakeholders may consider the need for updated emergency response plans and risk management strategies to ensure the safety and effectiveness of this essential water resource infrastructure.
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 Clearwater -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| L Medicine Bow R At Boles Spring | 8 cfs | → |
| Laramie River Near Bosler | 1,950 cfs | → |
| Rock Creek Ab King Canyon Canal | 259 cfs | → |
| Sybille Creek Ab Mule Creek | 143 cfs | → |
| Medicine Bow R Ab Seminoe Reservoir | 19 cfs | → |
| Sybille Creek Ab Canal No. 3 | 93 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Clearwater.
Boat launches
- Wheatland Reservoir #3 Boat Ramp
- Palmer Canyon Road Albany County
- Wheatland Reservoir #3 Boat Launch
- East Allen Lake Boat Launch
- East Allen Lake Boat Ramp
- Carbon County
Campgrounds
- Wheatland Reservoir No. 3/Post Lake Access - Wgf
- East Allen Lake Public Access - Wgf
- Sugarloaf Trailhead
- Toaster Wall
- Roaring Fork Trailhead
- Roaring Fork Camp
Fishing spots
More reservoirs
Track Clearwater 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 Clearwater
Where does the data for Clearwater 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 Clearwater.