Applegate dam
Applegate
Applegate is a privately owned dam located in Arvada, Wyoming, along the Applegate Draw. Built in 1956, this earth dam stands at 32 feet high and serves multiple purposes, including fire protection, stock watering, and small fish pond management. With a storage capacity of 68 acre-feet and a surface area of 5 acres, Applegate primarily caters to the needs of the local community while also contributing to the ecological balance of the area.
Despite its low hazard potential and fair condition assessment, Applegate is subject to state regulation and inspection, ensuring its safety and compliance with relevant standards. The dam's uncontrolled spillway, measuring 40 feet in width, allows for the controlled release of excess water during periods of heavy rainfall or flooding. As part of its risk management measures, Applegate undergoes regular inspections every five years to assess its structural integrity and potential hazards, with the last inspection conducted in April 2018.
Situated in the Congressional District 00 of Wyoming and overseen by the SEO regulatory agency, Applegate stands as a vital water resource for the region, providing essential services for both humans and wildlife. With its strategic location and multi-purpose functionality, Applegate serves as a key component in the local water infrastructure, highlighting the intersection of water resource management and climate resilience in the area.
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 Applegate -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Powder River At Sussex | 144 cfs | → |
| Nf Powder River Below Pass Creek | 50 cfs | → |
| Middle Fork Powder River Near Barnum | 23 cfs | → |
| North Fork Powder River Near Hazelton | 3 cfs | → |
| Clear Creek Near Buffalo | 29 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Applegate.
Campgrounds
- Outlaw Cave Campsite 4
- Outlaw Cave Campsite 2
- Outlaw Cave Campsite 3
- Outlaw Cave Campsite 1
- Outlaw Cave Campsite 5
- Outlaw Cave Campground
Paddle runs
- Buffalo Creek (Lower)
- Middle Fork Powder River
- North Fork Red Fork Powder River
- Powder River (Cantonment Reno)
More reservoirs
Track Applegate 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 Applegate
Where does the data for Applegate 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.