Ella dam
Ella
Ella is a private irrigation dam located in Albany, Wyoming, along the Middle Sybille Creek. Built in 1963, this earth dam stands at a height of 20 feet and has a length of 468 feet, with a storage capacity of 108 acre-feet. Despite its low hazard potential, the dam is currently in poor condition, as assessed in June 2020, with a moderate risk level.
Owned privately and regulated by the State of Wyoming, Ella serves primarily for irrigation purposes, with an uncontrolled spillway and one outlet gate. Its geographical coordinates are 41.6286 latitude and -105.4476 longitude, making it a critical infrastructure in the water management system of the area. The dam's poor condition and moderate risk highlight the importance of regular inspections and maintenance to ensure its long-term stability and safety.
Although Ella may seem unassuming with its low hazard potential, its poor condition and moderate risk level underscore the need for proactive risk management measures. Climate enthusiasts and water resource experts should pay attention to the maintenance and inspection frequency of dams like Ella to prevent potential failures and ensure the safety and sustainability of water infrastructure in the face of changing climate conditions.
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 Ella -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Laramie River Near Bosler | 1,950 cfs | → |
| Sybille Creek Ab Mule Creek | 143 cfs | → |
| Laramie River At Laramie | 125 cfs | → |
| Sybille Creek Ab Canal No. 3 | 93 cfs | → |
| Little Laramie River Near Filmore | 671 cfs | → |
| Rock Creek Ab King Canyon Canal | 129 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Ella.
Boat launches
- Palmer Canyon Road Albany County
- Wheatland Reservoir #3 Boat Ramp
- Wheatland Reservoir #3 Boat Launch
- Herrick Lane Albany County
Campgrounds
- Wheatland Reservoir No. 3/Post Lake Access - Wgf
- Sugarloaf Trailhead
- Toaster Wall
- Yellow Pine
- Yellow Pine Campground
- Tie City
Fishing spots
- Wheatland Reservoir #3
- Alsop Lake
- Upper North Crow Reservoir
- Lower North Crow Reservoir
- Leazenby Lake
- Rock Lake
Paddle runs
- Duck Creek
- Co Dow Anlger Access Trail To Nf Boundary On East Section Line, Sec 24, T11n, R72w
- Upper North Fork
- Intermittent Stream To Junction With Co Division Of Wildlife Angler Access Trail In Sw 1/4 Sec 22, T11n, R72w
- Road West Of Creedmore Lakes To Junction Of Intermittent Stream In Sw 1/4, Sec 29, T11n, R72w
More reservoirs
Track Ella 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 Ella
Where does the data for Ella 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 Ella.