Bell dam
Bell
Bell, located in Albany, Wyoming, is a privately owned earth dam that was completed in 1957 for irrigation purposes on the Middle Chugwater Creek. Designed by JACK NOBLITT, the dam stands at 38 feet high with a hydraulic height of 33 feet and a length of 620 feet. It has a storage capacity of 479 acre-feet and serves as a vital water supply source for the surrounding area.
Despite its importance, Bell is currently assessed as being in poor condition, with a low hazard potential but a moderate risk level. The dam features an uncontrolled spillway with a width of 80 feet and a single slide gate for outlet control. The last inspection was conducted in August 2020, with an inspection frequency of every 5 years. With its location in a relatively remote area, the dam plays a crucial role in supporting agricultural activities and water supply needs in the region.
As climate change continues to impact water resources, the maintenance and upkeep of dams like Bell become increasingly crucial to ensure the sustainability and resilience of water infrastructure. With its historical significance and role in supporting irrigation and water supply, Bell serves as a reminder of the importance of responsible dam management in the face of evolving climatic challenges.
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 Bell -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Sybille Creek Ab Mule Creek | 143 cfs | → |
| Laramie River Near Bosler | 1,950 cfs | → |
| Laramie River At Laramie | 125 cfs | → |
| Sybille Creek Ab Canal No. 3 | 93 cfs | → |
| Crow Creek At 19th Street | 3 cfs | → |
| Little Laramie River Near Filmore | 671 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Bell.
Campgrounds
- Yellow Pine
- Yellow Pine Campground
- Pole Creek Dispersed Campground
- Tie City
- Tie City Campground
- Curt Gowdy State Park
Fishing spots
- Upper North Crow Reservoir
- Lower North Crow Reservoir
- Granite Springs Reservoir
- Alsop Lake
- Wheatland Reservoir #3
- Leazenby Lake
Paddle runs
- Duck Creek
- Co Dow Anlger Access Trail To Nf Boundary On East Section Line, Sec 24, T11n, R72w
- Upper North Fork
- Intermittent Stream To Junction With Co Division Of Wildlife Angler Access Trail In Sw 1/4 Sec 22, T11n, R72w
- Road West Of Creedmore Lakes To Junction Of Intermittent Stream In Sw 1/4, Sec 29, T11n, R72w
More reservoirs
Track Bell 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 Bell
Where does the data for Bell 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 Bell.