Paint Creek dam
Paint Creek
Paint Creek, located in Park County, Wyoming, is an offstream irrigation reservoir with a primary purpose of providing water for agricultural use. Constructed in 1911, this earth dam stands at a height of 20 feet and has a maximum storage capacity of 675 acre-feet. Despite its age, the dam is still in use, albeit with a poor condition assessment indicating the need for maintenance and potential improvements.
The dam on Paint Creek is regulated by the State of Wyoming, with inspections conducted every 5 years to ensure its safety and integrity. With a low hazard potential but a moderate risk assessment rating, there is a need for ongoing risk management measures to address any potential issues that may arise. The dam features an uncontrolled spillway and a single valve outlet gate, serving as the primary means of water release when needed.
While Paint Creek reservoir provides vital irrigation water for the surrounding agricultural lands, its aging infrastructure and poor condition assessment highlight the importance of ongoing maintenance and potential upgrades to ensure the safety and reliability of this water resource. Water resource and climate enthusiasts may find interest in the history and current status of this dam, as well as the challenges involved in managing and maintaining it for the future.
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 Paint Creek -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Clarks Fork Yellowstone River Nr Belfry Mt | 5,570 cfs | → |
| Shoshone River Below Buffalo Bill Reservoir | 315 cfs | → |
| Rock Creek Near Red Lodge Mt | 443 cfs | → |
| North Fork Shoshone River At Wapiti | 3,750 cfs | → |
| South Fork Shoshone River Ab Buffalo Bill Res | 1,250 cfs | → |
| West Rosebud Creek Near Roscoe Mt | 90 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Paint Creek.
Boat launches
- Hogan Reservoir Boat Launch
- Luce Reservoir Boat Launch
- Clarks Fork Boat Launch
- Beartooth High Lakes Trail Wyoming
- Beartooth Highway Wyoming
- North Fork Shoshone River Boat Ramp
Campgrounds
- Hogan And Luce Campground
- Hogan And Luce Campsite 1
- Hogan And Luce Campsite 2
- Hogan And Luce Campsite 3
- Hogan And Luce Campsite 4
- Hogan And Luce Campsite 5
Fishing spots
Track Paint Creek 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 Paint Creek
Where does the data for Paint Creek 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 Paint Creek.