Grinnell dam
Grinnell
Grinnell, a private irrigation dam located on Grinnell Creek in Carbon County, Wyoming, stands as a testament to water resource management and climate adaptation efforts. Built in 1919, this earth dam with stone core serves the primary purpose of supporting irrigation activities in the region. With a dam height of 8 feet and a hydraulic height of 5 feet, Grinnell offers a storage capacity of 310 acre-feet, providing vital water resources for agricultural needs in the area.
Despite its age, Grinnell maintains a fair condition assessment and a low hazard potential, making it a reliable asset for the community. The dam features an uncontrolled spillway with a width of 40 feet, ensuring proper water discharge during high-flow events. Regular inspections and maintenance activities, conducted approximately every five years, contribute to the overall safety and functionality of the structure. With its moderate risk assessment rating and strategic location in the Sacramento District, Grinnell plays a crucial role in water management and environmental conservation efforts in the region.
As climate change continues to impact water resources and infrastructure resilience, Grinnell serves as a critical asset in ensuring sustainable water supply and irrigation practices in Wyoming. Managed by private owners and regulated by state authorities, this historic dam exemplifies the importance of proactive maintenance, risk assessment, and emergency preparedness in safeguarding water sources for future generations. With its strategic location and operational efficiency, Grinnell stands as a beacon of hope for water resource and climate enthusiasts seeking innovative solutions to address evolving environmental 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 Grinnell -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Medicine Bow R Ab Seminoe Reservoir | 38 cfs | → |
| L Medicine Bow R At Boles Spring | 10 cfs | → |
| Deer Creek In Canyon | 60 cfs | → |
| Box Elder Creek At Boxelder | 26 cfs | → |
| Sweetwater River Near Alcova | 27 cfs | → |
| N Platte Riv Ab Seminoe Reservoir | 1,640 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Grinnell.
Boat launches
- Shiners Point Road Carbon County
- East Allen Lake Boat Ramp
- East Allen Lake Boat Launch
- Carbon County
- Ledge Creek Boat Stopoff
- Trapper Route Road Natrona County
Campgrounds
- Prior Flat Campsite 8
- Prior Flat Campsite 10
- Prior Flat Campsite 11
- Prior Flat Campsite 13
- Prior Flat Campsite 9
- Prior Flat Campsite 12
Fishing spots
- Dome Rock Reservoir
- Seminoe Reservoir
- East Allen Lake
- Alcova Reservoir
- Pathfinder Reservoir
- Toltec Reservoir
More reservoirs
Track Grinnell 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 Grinnell
Where does the data for Grinnell 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 Grinnell.