Orr dam
Orr
Located in Crook, Wyoming, the Orr dam, also known as Spring Branch, was completed in 1976 and serves primarily for irrigation purposes. Designed by John R. Long, this privately owned earth dam stands at a height of 33 feet, with a hydraulic height of 28 feet and a length of 1635 feet. With a storage capacity of 739 acre-feet and a surface area of 58 acres, the Orr dam plays a crucial role in water management in the area.
Despite being rated with a low hazard potential, the Orr dam is regularly inspected and maintained to ensure its structural integrity. The dam's condition assessment in 2019 deemed it to be in fair condition, with a moderate risk level. While it has uncontrolled spillways and no outlet gates, the dam's risk management measures and emergency preparedness protocols are being continuously updated to meet regulatory guidelines.
The Orr dam stands as a vital water resource structure in Wyoming, contributing to irrigation, fire protection, and stock maintenance. With its strategic location on Spring Branch, the dam plays a crucial role in water distribution and management in the region. As climate change continues to impact water resources, maintaining and monitoring dams like Orr becomes increasingly important for sustainable water management practices.
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 Orr -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Cold Springs Creek At Buckhorn | 4 cfs | → |
| Beaver Creek At Mallo Camp | 3 cfs | → |
| Belle Fourche River Below Moorcroft | 11 cfs | → |
| Sand Creek Near Ranch A | 36 cfs | → |
| Little Spearfish Creek Near Lead | 15 cfs | → |
| Annie Creek Near Lead | 0 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Orr.
Campgrounds
Fishing spots
- Turner Creek Reservoir
- Blackhills Power And Light Reservoir
- Keyhole Reservoir
- Yates Pond
- Lak Reservoir
- Deerfield Reservoir Complex
More reservoirs
Track Orr 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 Orr
Where does the data for Orr 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 Orr.