Ward Ball dam
Ward Ball
Ward Ball is a privately owned earth dam located in Sublette, Wyoming, along the Ward Ball Draw stream, primarily used for irrigation purposes. Built in 1965, this dam stands at 22 feet high with a hydraulic height of 17 feet and a length of 950 feet, providing a storage capacity of 528 acre-feet. Despite its low hazard potential, Ward Ball is currently assessed to be in poor condition, with the last inspection in October 2019 revealing the need for maintenance and improvements.
Situated in Congressional District 00 of Wyoming, Ward Ball is regulated by the State Engineer's Office and is subject to regular inspections, permitting, and enforcement measures to ensure its safe operation. The dam features an uncontrolled spillway with a width of 100 feet, and although no associated structures are present, the surrounding area covers a surface area of 53 acres. Ward Ball poses a moderate risk level, indicating the importance of implementing proper risk management measures and potentially upgrading its condition to safeguard against any potential hazards.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Ward Ball provides an intriguing case study of a privately owned irrigation dam in Wyoming, highlighting the intersection of water management, infrastructure maintenance, and regulatory oversight. With its historical significance and current condition assessment, Ward Ball represents a focal point for discussions on sustainable water resource utilization and the importance of maintaining aging dam structures to mitigate risks and ensure long-term environmental resilience in the face of changing climate patterns.
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 Ward Ball -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| New Fork River Near Big Piney | 1,050 cfs | → |
| Pine Creek Above Fremont Lake | 549 cfs | → |
| Green River At Warren Bridge | 841 cfs | → |
| Big Sandy River Near Farson | 210 cfs | → |
| Sf L Wind Riv Ab Washakie Res | 263 cfs | → |
| Bull Lake Creek Above Bull Lake | 554 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Ward Ball.
Boat launches
- Boulder Lake Boat Ramp
- North Boulder Lake Campground Boat Launch
- New Fork Campground Boat Takeout
- New Fork Campground Boat Launch
- Fremont Lake Boat Ramp
- Green River Access Site 2 Boat Launch
Campgrounds
- Stokes Crossing Campsite 2
- Stokes Crossing Campground
- Stokes Crossing
- Stokes Crossing Campsite 1
- North Boulder Lake Campsite 5
- North Boulder Lake Campground
Fishing spots
More reservoirs
Track Ward Ball 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 Ward Ball
Where does the data for Ward Ball 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 Ward Ball.