Paddy No. 1 dam
Paddy No. 1
Paddy No. 1, located in Niobrara, Wyoming, is a privately owned earth dam completed in 1963 for multiple purposes including fire protection, stock, and small fish pond. With a height of 29 feet and a length of 414 feet, this structure on Paddy Draw is a vital resource in the region, providing a storage capacity of 87 acre-feet. Despite its low hazard potential, the dam is in poor condition as of the last inspection in May 2018.
Designed by JOHN A LAMBERT, Paddy No. 1 is regulated by the State of Wyoming through the State Engineer's Office, with ongoing inspection, enforcement, and permitting in place. The dam's spillway type is uncontrolled with a width of 45 feet, and it has one outlet valve. The risk assessment for Paddy No. 1 indicates a moderate level of risk, highlighting the importance of continued monitoring and maintenance to ensure the safety and functionality of this water resource for the community.
Overall, Paddy No. 1 stands as a crucial infrastructure for water management in the region, serving multiple purposes while facing challenges in its current condition. With a strategic location in Edgemont, SD, this earth dam on Paddy Draw requires attention and investment to mitigate the identified risks and safeguard its ability to provide essential services for fire protection, livestock, and aquatic life. As climate change impacts water resources, the significance of maintaining and improving structures like Paddy No. 1 becomes even more pronounced for the local community and ecosystem.
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 Paddy No. 1 -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Cheyenne River Near Spencer | 2 cfs | → |
| Cheyenne R At Edgemont Sd | 4 cfs | → |
| Hat Cr Near Edgemont Sd | 0 cfs | → |
| North Platte River At Orin | 612 cfs | → |
| Stockade Beaver Creek Near Newcastle | 18 cfs | → |
| North Platte River Below Glendo Reservoir | 5,710 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Paddy No. 1.
Track Paddy No. 1 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 Paddy No. 1
Where does the data for Paddy No. 1 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 Paddy No. 1.