Morton No. F.S. 9-231-39 dam
Morton No. F.S. 9-231-39
Morton No. F.S. 9-231-39, located in Converse, Wyoming, is a Federal-owned Earth dam constructed in 1972 for the primary purpose of creating a Fish and Wildlife Pond along the Pirate Draw river. With a height of 22 feet and a hydraulic height of 17 feet, the dam has a storage capacity of 63 acre-feet and a surface area of 7 acres. Despite its low hazard potential, the dam's condition assessment is rated as poor, highlighting the need for maintenance and potential upgrades to ensure its long-term stability.
The dam features an uncontrolled spillway with a width of 30 feet and an outlet gate system for water release. The last inspection conducted in May 2020 revealed the dam's poor condition, prompting a moderate risk assessment rating of 3. While the hazard potential is low, the risk management measures and emergency action plan for the dam are not currently detailed, raising concerns about its preparedness in case of an emergency. Given its importance for fish and wildlife habitats, further attention and resources may be required to address the dam's structural deficiencies and ensure its continued functionality and safety.
As a critical component of the local ecosystem, the Morton No. F.S. 9-231-39 dam serves as a vital resource for wildlife and water management in the area. With its historical significance and environmental impact, efforts to improve its condition and overall risk management are essential to safeguarding the surrounding community and ecosystem. By addressing the dam's poor condition and implementing necessary upgrades, stakeholders can protect the dam's integrity and ensure its continued contribution to the region's water resource and climate resilience efforts.
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 Morton No. F.S. 9-231-39 -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Belle Fourche R Bl Rattlesnake C Nr Piney Wy | 0 cfs | → |
| Cheyenne River Near Spencer | 2 cfs | → |
| North Platte River At Orin | 612 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Morton No. F.S. 9-231-39.
Track Morton No. F.S. 9-231-39 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 Morton No. F.S. 9-231-39
Where does the data for Morton No. F.S. 9-231-39 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 Morton No. F.S. 9-231-39.