Spencer dam
Spencer
Spencer, also known as Lak Res and Enl of 1890r & 4917r, is a private water resource located in Weston County, Wyoming. This Earth dam, completed in 1952, serves primarily for irrigation purposes along the Stockade Beaver Creek. With a height of 45 feet and a storage capacity of 2847 acre-feet, Spencer plays a crucial role in supporting agricultural activities in the region.
Despite its fair condition assessment and significant hazard potential, Spencer is regulated and inspected by the State of Wyoming, ensuring its safety and reliability for the surrounding community. The dam features an uncontrolled spillway with a width of 95 feet and two valve outlet gates. With a moderate risk assessment rating, Spencer remains a vital infrastructure for water management in the area, providing a surface area of 126 acres and a drainage area of 20.1 square miles.
Managed by a private owner, Spencer contributes to the overall water infrastructure in Wyoming, showcasing the importance of maintaining and monitoring such critical resources for sustainable water management in the face of changing climate conditions. As climate enthusiasts, it is essential to recognize the role of dams like Spencer in water resource management and to support initiatives that promote the safety and resilience of these structures in the long run.
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 Spencer -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Stockade Beaver Creek Near Newcastle | 18 cfs | → |
| Beaver Creek At Mallo Camp | 3 cfs | → |
| Castle Cr Above Deerfield Res Near Hill City Sd | 12 cfs | → |
| Castle Cr Below Deerfield Dam Sd | 9 cfs | → |
| Cold Springs Creek At Buckhorn | 4 cfs | → |
| Rhoads Fork Near Rochford Sd | 4 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Spencer.
Boat launches
Campgrounds
- Summit Ridge Cabin
- Redbank Springs Campground
- Ditch Creek Campground
- Ditch Creek
- Beaver Creek
- Comanche Park
Track Spencer 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 Spencer
Where does the data for Spencer 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 Significant 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 Spencer.