Buzzer dam
Buzzer
Buzzer, located in Hulett, Wyoming, is a privately owned earth dam that serves multiple purposes, including fire protection, stock watering, and small fish pond management. Built in 1964, this structure stands at 20 feet tall and spans 948 feet in length, with a storage capacity of 150 acre-feet. The dam is situated on Coyote Creek and is regulated by the State Engineering Office, with regular inspections to ensure its safety and compliance with state standards.
Despite being categorized as a low hazard potential dam, Buzzer has been assessed as being in poor condition as of June 2020. The dam's spillway, an uncontrolled type with a width of 250 feet, is its primary outlet mechanism. The surrounding area of this structure covers 13 acres, serving as a vital water resource in Crook County. While the risk assessment is moderate, with a rating of 3, the dam's management measures and emergency preparedness plans are currently not detailed.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Buzzer presents an intriguing case study of a privately owned dam in Wyoming that plays a crucial role in fire protection, livestock management, and ecological conservation. With its historical significance dating back to the 1960s, this structure offers insights into the challenges and responsibilities associated with maintaining and regulating dams to ensure water security and environmental sustainability. As the climate continues to change, understanding and addressing the condition and management of dams like Buzzer will be essential in safeguarding water resources for future generations.
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 Buzzer -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Belle Fourche River Below Moorcroft | 11 cfs | → |
| Donkey Creek Near Gillette | 0 cfs | → |
| Stonepile Creek At Mouth | 3 cfs | → |
| Belle Fourche R Bl Rattlesnake C Nr Piney Wy | 0 cfs | → |
| Cold Springs Creek At Buckhorn | 4 cfs | → |
| Beaver Creek At Mallo Camp | 3 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Buzzer.
Track Buzzer 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 Buzzer
Where does the data for Buzzer 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 Buzzer.