Ewen - Pence Gulch dam
Ewen - Pence Gulch
Ewen - Pence Gulch is a privately owned irrigation dam located in Big Horn, Wyoming, along the Pence Gulch stream. Constructed in 1953 by designer Thane H. Baldwin, this earth dam stands at a height of 30 feet with a hydraulic height of 25 feet and a length of 293 feet. The dam serves the primary purpose of irrigation, providing a maximum storage capacity of 118 acre-feet and a normal storage of 78 acre-feet across a surface area of 7 acres.
Despite its low hazard potential, Ewen - Pence Gulch is currently in poor condition as assessed during the last inspection in October 2017. The dam features an uncontrolled spillway and one other controlled outlet gate, with a moderate risk rating assigned. While the dam meets state regulatory requirements for permitting, inspection, and enforcement, there is a need for improved risk management measures to address its deteriorating condition. As a significant water resource structure in the area, efforts may be required to ensure the long-term safety and functionality of Ewen - Pence Gulch for both irrigation purposes and climate resilience.
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 Ewen - Pence Gulch -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Shell Creek Near Shell | 74 cfs | → |
| Bighorn River At Basin | 1,010 cfs | → |
| Bighorn River At Kane | 1,310 cfs | → |
| Shell Creek Above Shell Creek Reservoir | 12 cfs | → |
| Little Bighorn River At State Line Nr Wyola Mt | 180 cfs | → |
| Tongue River Near Dayton | 48 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Ewen - Pence Gulch.
Boat launches
Campgrounds
- Cabin Creek Campground
- Cabin Creek Meadows
- Bald Mountain
- Shell Creek
- Shell Creek Campground
- Ranger Creek - Paintrock
Fishing spots
- Tongue River Fishing West
- Tongue River Fishing East
- Tongue River Fishing Site
- Upper Paintrock Fishing Site
- Big Horn Lake
- Veterans Cove Fishing Site
More reservoirs
Track Ewen - Pence Gulch 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 Ewen - Pence Gulch
Where does the data for Ewen - Pence Gulch 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 Ewen - Pence Gulch.