Kemmerer dam
Kemmerer
Kemmerer, located in Lincoln, Wyoming, is a local government-owned earth dam built in 1942 on the Hams Fork River for water supply purposes. With a height of 30 feet and a hydraulic height of 21 feet, the dam has a storage capacity of 2,370 acre-feet and serves the surrounding area with a normal storage capacity of 1,769 acre-feet. The dam spans 850 feet and covers a surface area of 183 acres, with a maximum discharge of 27,000 cubic feet per second.
Despite its significant contribution to water supply, Kemmerer poses a high hazard potential due to its poor condition assessment. With a moderate risk rating of 3, the dam requires regular inspections every five years to ensure its safety and functionality. In the event of an emergency, the dam is equipped with a slide (sluice gate) outlet gate and an uncontrolled spillway with a width of 80 feet. The dam is regulated and permitted by the State of Wyoming, with enforcement and inspection conducted by the State Engineer's Office.
Kemmerer stands as a vital water resource infrastructure in Wyoming, providing essential water supply services to the region. Its historical significance, dating back to 1942, highlights the importance of maintaining and monitoring dams to ensure public safety and water security. For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Kemmerer serves as a case study in the management and regulation of dams in a changing environment, emphasizing the need for ongoing risk assessment and maintenance to safeguard 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 Kemmerer -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Hams Fork Below Pole Creek | 146 cfs | → |
| Fontenelle C Nr Herschler Ranch | 108 cfs | → |
| Bear River Below Pixley Dam | 1 cfs | → |
| Bear River Below Smiths Fork | 316 cfs | → |
| Smiths Fork Near Border | 386 cfs | → |
| Bear River At Border | 276 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Kemmerer.
Boat launches
Campgrounds
- Kemmerer Tent Park
- Pine Creek Camping Area
- Pine Creek Campsite 7
- Pine Creek Campsite 6
- Pine Creek Group Campsite
- Pine Creek Campsite 5
Paddle runs
- Source To Nf Boundary
- Raymond Creek
- Huff Creek
- Salt River Trailhead To Nf Boundary
- Confluence With Snowslide Creek To West Boundary Of Patented Mining Claim Just Inside The Caribou Nf Boundary
- Source To Salt River Trailhead
More reservoirs
Track Kemmerer 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 Kemmerer
Where does the data for Kemmerer 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 High 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 Kemmerer.