Bridge Dam dam
Bridge Dam
Bridge Dam, located in Natrona, Wyoming, is a gravity dam built in 1957 by the Bureau of Land Management to serve as a debris control structure along the Mike Wash river. With a height of 40 feet and a hydraulic height of 35 feet, the dam has a storage capacity of 361.1 acre-feet and a surface area of 23.6 acres. Despite its low hazard potential and moderate risk assessment, the dam is currently in poor condition, prompting concerns about its long-term safety and effectiveness.
Managed by the Bureau of Land Management, Bridge Dam is subject to state regulations and inspections to ensure compliance with safety standards. While the dam has an uncontrolled spillway and no outlet gates, its primary purpose remains debris control for the surrounding area. The dam's location and design, utilizing buttress and stone core types, make it a key structure in managing water resources and climate impacts in the region, highlighting the importance of maintaining and monitoring its condition for continued functionality.
With Liz Cheney as the congressional representative for the district, Bridge Dam plays a crucial role in flood control and water management efforts. Despite its poor condition assessment, the dam's strategic placement and historical significance underscore the need for ongoing maintenance and risk management measures to safeguard both the environment and communities downstream. As water resource and climate enthusiasts, it is essential to monitor and advocate for the proper care and maintenance of vital structures like Bridge Dam to ensure their continued effectiveness in the face of changing weather patterns and environmental challenges.
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 Bridge Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Middle Fork Powder River Near Barnum | 22 cfs | → |
| Fivemile Creek Near Shoshoni | 99 cfs | → |
| Wind River Ab Boysen Reservoir | 377 cfs | → |
| Wind R Bl Boysen Res Wyo | 819 cfs | → |
| Sweetwater River Near Alcova | 27 cfs | → |
| Wind River At Riverton | 150 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Bridge Dam.
Track Bridge Dam 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 Bridge Dam
Where does the data for Bridge Dam 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 Bridge Dam.