Twin Buttes dam
Twin Buttes
Twin Buttes is a state-owned earth dam located in Albany, Wyoming, with a primary purpose of serving as a Fish and Wildlife Pond. Built in 1972 by designer John S. Ogden, this dam stands at a height of 8 feet and has a hydraulic height of 3 feet. It spans a length of 1100 feet and has a storage capacity of 6250 acre-feet, with a normal storage level of 3912 acre-feet.
This low-hazard dam on Mortensen Draw in Laramie is regulated and inspected by the Wyoming State Engineer's Office, ensuring its safety and functionality for the surrounding area. With a fair condition assessment and a moderate risk rating, Twin Buttes has one controlled outlet gate and an uncontrolled spillway. The dam covers a surface area of 334 acres and has a maximum discharge capacity of 330 cubic feet per second.
Water resource and climate enthusiasts will appreciate the ecological importance of Twin Buttes as a habitat for fish and wildlife. Its location in a picturesque setting in Wyoming, combined with its role in water management and conservation efforts, makes it a valuable resource for the region. The dam's history, design features, and safety measures contribute to its significance in maintaining a balanced ecosystem and providing recreational opportunities for 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 Twin Buttes -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Pioneer Canal Near Woods | 174 cfs | → |
| Laramie R Bl Pioneer Canal Nr Woods Landing | 1,010 cfs | → |
| Little Laramie River Near Filmore | 671 cfs | → |
| Laramie River At Laramie | 19 cfs | → |
| Sand Creek At Colorado-Wyoming State Line | 3 cfs | → |
| Laramie River Near Bosler | 1,950 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Twin Buttes.
Boat launches
- Twin Buttes Reservoir Boat Launch
- Twin Buttes Reservoir Boat Ramp
- Albany County
- Lake Hattie Road Albany County
- Lake Hattie Reservoir Boat Ramp
- Herrick Lane Albany County
Campgrounds
- Twin Buttes Reservoir Public Access - Wgf
- Meeboer Lake Access Area - Wgf
- Lake Hattie Public Access Area - Wgf
- Jelm Wildlife Habitat Management Area Camping
- Lake Owen Campground
- Lake Owen
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- End Of Four-Wheel Drive Road To Pearl Creek In Se 1/4 Sec 21, T10n, R74w
- Pearl Creek To Junction Of Road West Of Creedmore Lakes In Sw 1/4 Sec 5, T10n, R73e
- Source In Se 1/4 Sec 25, T10n, R75w To End Of The Four-Wheel Drive Road East Of The Nf Poudre Campground (Nw 1/4 Of Sec 21, T10n, R74w
- Upper North Fork
- Road West Of Creedmore Lakes To Junction Of Intermittent Stream In Sw 1/4, Sec 29, T11n, R72w
- South Sec Line, Sec 2, T11n, R80w To Co/Wy Stateline
Track Twin Buttes 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 Twin Buttes
Where does the data for Twin Buttes 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 Twin Buttes.