Cherokee Trail dam
Cherokee Trail
Cherokee Trail, located in Carbon County, Wyoming, is a privately owned irrigation dam on Indian Creek. Built in 1923, this earth dam stands at 20 feet high with a hydraulic height of 15 feet and a length of 700 feet. The dam has a storage capacity of 100 acre-feet and serves the primary purpose of irrigation. Despite its age, Cherokee Trail has a low hazard potential but is assessed to be in poor condition as of the last inspection in June 2020.
Managed by the Wyoming State Engineer's Office, Cherokee Trail is regulated, permitted, inspected, and enforced by the state authorities. The dam features an uncontrolled spillway and one other controlled outlet gate. While the risk assessment for Cherokee Trail is moderate, with a hazard potential of 3 out of 5, the dam currently lacks updated emergency action plans and inundation maps. The risk management measures for Cherokee Trail remain unspecified, highlighting the need for enhanced preparedness and mitigation strategies for potential emergencies.
In the picturesque setting of Saratoga, Wyoming, Cherokee Trail serves as a vital water resource for the local community. With Congresswoman Liz Cheney representing the area, stakeholders and water resource enthusiasts closely monitor the condition and functionality of this historic dam to ensure its continued safe operation and contribution to the region's irrigation needs.
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 Cherokee Trail -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Encampment River At Mouth | 621 cfs | → |
| Encampment River Ab Hog Park Cr | 428 cfs | → |
| South Brush Creek Near Saratoga | 18 cfs | → |
| North Brush Creek Near Saratoga | 142 cfs | → |
| Jack Creek Above Coyote Draw | 133 cfs | → |
| North Platte River Near Northgate | 433 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Cherokee Trail.
Boat launches
- Bennett Creek Campground Boat Ramp
- Blm 3404 Carbon County
- Tombstone Nature Trail Routt County
- Cowdrey Lake Rec Site Boat Ramp
- Cowdrey Lake Rec Site Boat Dock
Campgrounds
- Encampment River Campsite 8
- Encampment River Campsite 7
- Encampment River Campsite 6
- Encampment River Campsite 5
- Encampment River Campsite 4
- Encampment River Campground
Fishing spots
- Hog Park Reservoir
- Big Creek Lakes Day Use Area
- Big Creek Lake(Lower)
- Big Creek Lake(Upper)
- Saratoga Lake
- Rob Roy Reservoir
Paddle runs
More reservoirs
Track Cherokee Trail 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 Cherokee Trail
Where does the data for Cherokee Trail 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 Cherokee Trail.