Mush Creek dam
Mush Creek
Mush Creek, located in Edgemont, South Dakota, is a Federal-owned earth dam built in 1940 by USDA NRCS for fire protection, stock, or small fish pond purposes. The dam stands at a height of 16 feet with a hydraulic height of 16 feet and a structural height of 22 feet, serving as a vital water resource for the area. With a storage capacity of 118 acre-feet and a surface area of 18 acres, Mush Creek plays a crucial role in regulating water flow and providing necessary water for various activities in the region.
The dam, with a low hazard potential and a moderate risk assessment rating, has a drainage area of 19.1 square miles and a maximum discharge capacity of 2500 cubic feet per second. While the condition assessment is currently not available, the dam is inspected every 5 years to ensure its safety and functionality. Despite being uncontrolled, the spillway width of 20 feet helps manage excess water during heavy rainfall events. Mush Creek dam remains a key infrastructure for water resource management in Weston County, Wyoming, contributing to climate resilience and ensuring water security for the local community.
Although details on emergency action plans and risk management measures are not provided, Mush Creek dam continues to serve its primary purposes effectively. As a Federal-owned structure under the Forest Service, the dam plays a crucial role in regulating water flow, providing water for various activities, and ensuring fire protection in the region. With its historic significance dating back to 1940, Mush Creek dam stands as a testament to the importance of water resource management and climate resilience 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 Mush Creek -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Stockade Beaver Creek Near Newcastle | 18 cfs | → |
| Beaver Creek At Mallo Camp | 3 cfs | → |
| Cold Springs Creek At Buckhorn | 4 cfs | → |
| Belle Fourche River Below Moorcroft | 5 cfs | → |
| Cheyenne River Near Spencer | 0 cfs | → |
| Castle Cr Above Deerfield Res Near Hill City Sd | 10 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Mush Creek.
Track Mush Creek 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 Mush Creek
Where does the data for Mush Creek 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 Mush Creek.