Sand Draw No. 1 Dam dam
Sand Draw No. 1 Dam
Sand Draw No. 1 Dam, located in Natrona, Wyoming, was completed in 1961 by the Bureau of Land Management for debris control along the Sand Draw river. This federal-owned gravity dam stands at a structural height of 34 feet, with a hydraulic height of 28 feet and a length of 460 feet. It has a storage capacity of 34 acre-feet and serves the primary purpose of debris control in the area.
Managed by the Bureau of Land Management, Sand Draw No. 1 Dam has a low hazard potential and has not been rated for its condition assessment. The last inspection of the dam was conducted in July 2017, with an inspection frequency of 5 years. While the dam does not have an Emergency Action Plan prepared, it meets guidelines for risk management measures. With a maximum discharge capacity of 1100 cubic feet per second, this dam plays a crucial role in water resource management and climate resilience efforts in the region.
Overall, Sand Draw No. 1 Dam serves as a vital infrastructure for debris control along the Sand Draw river in Wyoming. With its low hazard potential and capacity for managing floodwaters, this dam contributes to the sustainable management of water resources in the area. As climate change continues to impact water availability and quality, structures like Sand Draw No. 1 Dam play a crucial role in ensuring the resilience of communities and ecosystems in the face of changing environmental conditions.
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 Sand Draw No. 1 Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Deer Creek In Canyon | 55 cfs | → |
| Box Elder Creek At Boxelder | 26 cfs | → |
| Medicine Bow R Ab Seminoe Reservoir | 48 cfs | → |
| Sweetwater River Near Alcova | 27 cfs | → |
| L Medicine Bow R At Boles Spring | 10 cfs | → |
| N Platte Riv Ab Seminoe Reservoir | 1,530 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Sand Draw No. 1 Dam.
Boat launches
- Trapper Route Road Natrona County
- Miles Landing Boat Ramp 1
- Miles Landing Boat Ramp 2
- Ledge Creek Boat Stopoff
- Whitetail Day Use Area Boat Ramp
- Gray Reef Road Natrona County
Campgrounds
- Lodgepole Campsite 4
- Lodgepole Campsite 2
- Lodgepole Campground
- Lodgepole Campsite 5
- Lodgepole Campsite 3
- Lodgepole Campsite 6
Fishing spots
- Alcova Reservoir
- Dome Rock Reservoir
- Pathfinder Reservoir
- Toltec Reservoir
- Seminoe Reservoir
- East Allen Lake
More reservoirs
Track Sand Draw No. 1 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 Sand Draw No. 1 Dam
Where does the data for Sand Draw No. 1 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 Sand Draw No. 1 Dam.