Cedar Draw dam
Cedar Draw
Located in Sheridan, Wyoming, Cedar Draw is a privately owned earth dam completed in 2004 for irrigation purposes. The dam stands at a height of 33 feet and has a hydraulic height of 26 feet, with a storage capacity of 84 acre-feet. With a surface area of 5.4 acres and a drainage area of 1.76 square miles, Cedar Draw serves as a vital resource for fire protection, stock, small fish ponds, and irrigation needs in the area.
Managed by the Wyoming State Permitting, Inspection, and Enforcement agencies, Cedar Draw has been assessed as having a low hazard potential and fair condition as of the last inspection in May 2021. The dam features an uncontrolled spillway, a valve outlet, and a spillway width of 175 feet. With Liz Cheney (R) representing Congressional District 00, Wyoming, Cedar Draw plays a crucial role in water resource management and climate resilience efforts in the region.
Despite moderate risk assessments, Cedar Draw serves as a key infrastructure for water storage and distribution in the area. With its strategic location on Cedar Draw river, the dam not only supports agricultural activities but also contributes to the overall ecosystem health and sustainability. As water resource and climate enthusiasts, keeping a close eye on Cedar Draw's condition and performance is essential for maintaining a reliable water supply and adapting to changing climate conditions in the region.
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 Cedar Draw -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Prairie Dog Creek Near Acme | 19 cfs | → |
| Tongue River At State Line Nr Decker Mt | 403 cfs | → |
| Goose Creek Near Acme | 123 cfs | → |
| Tongue River At Monarch | 383 cfs | → |
| Tongue River At Tongue R Dam Nr Decker Mt | 268 cfs | → |
| Tongue River Near Dayton | 48 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Cedar Draw.
Campgrounds
- Sheridan Koa
- Tongue River Reservoir State Park
- Washington Park - Sheridan
- Connor Battlefield State Park
- Tongue River Camp - Amsden Creek Wma
- Tongue Canyon Campground
Fishing spots
- Sheridan Fairgrounds Pond
- Lake Desmet
- Healy Lake
- Tongue River Fishing Site
- Tongue River Fishing East
- Tongue River Fishing West
Paddle runs
- Bridge At Tongue River Canyon To Burgess Picnic Grounds
- Sf Tongue- Johnson Creek To Confluence With Nf Tongue
- Nf Tongue From Burgess Picnic Ground To Pole Creek
- Dry Fork River From Its Confluence With Lake Creek To Confluence With Little Big Horn
- Wagon Box Creek To Dry Fork Trail
- White Creek
More reservoirs
Track Cedar Draw 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 Cedar Draw
Where does the data for Cedar Draw 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 Cedar Draw.