Lake Mckinney dam
Lake Mckinney
Lake Mckinney, located in Big Horn, Wyoming, is a privately-owned reservoir primarily used for irrigation purposes. The dam, constructed in 1939, stands at a height of 26 feet with a hydraulic height of 21 feet and a length of 735 feet. With a storage capacity of 550 acre-feet and a surface area of 41 acres, Lake Mckinney plays a crucial role in providing water for fire protection, livestock, and small fish ponds in the surrounding area.
Despite being classified as a low hazard potential structure with fair condition assessment, Lake Mckinney is regulated and inspected by the State of Wyoming to ensure its safety and functionality. The dam features an uncontrolled spillway with a width of 60 feet and a slide gate outlet. In case of emergencies, the reservoir has emergency action plans in place, although details on their preparation and guidelines compliance are not provided in the data.
Overall, Lake Mckinney presents a moderate risk level, with a risk assessment rating of 3. While the reservoir contributes significantly to local irrigation needs, climate enthusiasts and water resource professionals may find interest in monitoring and assessing the risk management measures and potential impacts of the dam on the surrounding ecosystem and water resources in the region.
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 Lake Mckinney -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Bighorn River At Basin | 941 cfs | → |
| Bighorn River At Kane | 1,170 cfs | → |
| Shell Creek Near Shell | 74 cfs | → |
| Shoshone River Near Lovell | 612 cfs | → |
| Bighorn R At Worland Wyo | 4,350 cfs | → |
| Greybull River At Meeteetse | 338 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Lake Mckinney.
Boat launches
Campgrounds
- Five Springs Falls Upper Campground
- Five Springs Falls Upper Campsite 4
- Five Springs Falls Upper Campsite 5
- Five Springs Falls Upper Campsite 6
- Five Springs Falls Upper Campsite 3
- Five Springs Falls Upper Campsite 7
Fishing spots
- Big Horn Lake
- Tongue River Fishing West
- Tongue River Fishing East
- Tongue River Fishing Site
- Upper Paintrock Fishing Site
- Sunshine Lake (Lower)
Paddle runs
- Trapper Creek
- White Creek
- Western Boundary Of Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area To Confluence With Bighorn River
More reservoirs
Track Lake Mckinney 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 Lake Mckinney
Where does the data for Lake Mckinney 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 Lake Mckinney.