Lake Desmet (South Dam) dam
Lake Desmet (South Dam)
Lake Desmet (South Dam) in Wyoming is a vital water supply source with a storage capacity of 234,987 acre-feet and a surface area of 2,653 acres. Completed in 1975, this earth dam stands at a height of 80 feet and has a structural height of 120 feet, serving the purpose of water supply for the local government in Ucross. The dam is regulated, inspected, and enforced by the Wyoming State Engineer's Office, ensuring its safety and functionality.
Located on the Piney and Rock Creek rivers, Lake Desmet (South Dam) has a high hazard potential and a fair condition assessment as of the last inspection in July 2019. The dam features an uncontrolled spillway with a width of 200 feet and a maximum discharge capacity of 8,520 cubic feet per second. With a moderate risk assessment rating, the dam's emergency action plan (EAP) status and risk management measures are currently under review, highlighting the importance of ongoing monitoring and maintenance to ensure the safety of the surrounding community and water resources.
Managed by the local government, Lake Desmet (South Dam) plays a crucial role in providing water supply for the region while also posing potential risks that require proactive management. With Liz Cheney representing the Congressional District in Wyoming where the dam is located, stakeholders and authorities must work together to ensure the dam's integrity, emergency preparedness, and risk mitigation strategies are up to date and in line with regulatory standards to safeguard both the environment and the community.
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 Lake Desmet (South Dam) -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Piney Creek At Kearny | 113 cfs | → |
| Rock Creek Near Buffalo | 70 cfs | → |
| Clear Creek Near Buffalo | 116 cfs | → |
| South Piney Creek At Willow Park | 0 cfs | → |
| Powder River At Arvada | 84 cfs | → |
| Goose Creek Near Acme | 123 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Lake Desmet (South Dam).
Campgrounds
- Hunter Corral Campground
- Tie Hack
- Middle Fork
- Hettinger Group Campground
- Tie Hack Campground
- Circle Park Campground
Fishing spots
- Lake Desmet
- Healy Lake
- Tie Hack Reservoir
- Sheridan Fairgrounds Pond
- Veterans Cove Fishing Site
- Upper Paintrock Fishing Site
Paddle runs
Track Lake Desmet (South 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 Lake Desmet (South Dam)
Where does the data for Lake Desmet (South 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 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 Lake Desmet (South Dam).