Little Pierce dam
Little Pierce
Little Pierce is a privately owned earth dam located in Albany, Wyoming, near the Como Bluffs Fish Hatchery. Built in 1941, this structure on Dry Creek stands at a height of 24 feet and has a storage capacity of 62 acre-feet. While its primary purpose is listed as "Other," the dam serves as a crucial water resource for the area, with a normal storage capacity of 49 acre-feet and a maximum discharge of 937 cubic feet per second.
Despite being categorized as having a low hazard potential, Little Pierce currently has a poor condition assessment as of its last inspection in August 2018. The dam, with a hydraulic height of 21 feet and a length of 420 feet, is in need of maintenance and improvements to ensure its structural integrity and continued functionality. With a moderate risk assessment rating of (3), it is crucial to address the issues identified and implement risk management measures to safeguard the surrounding community and environment.
Given its location and significance in the region, Little Pierce presents a valuable opportunity for stakeholders to collaborate on enhancing its safety and resilience. With state regulatory oversight in place, including permitting, inspection, and enforcement measures, there is a framework for addressing the dam's deficiencies and implementing necessary upgrades. As water resource and climate enthusiasts, it is vital to advocate for the proper maintenance and management of structures like Little Pierce to ensure the sustainable utilization of this essential resource.
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 Little Pierce -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Rock Creek Ab King Canyon Canal | 129 cfs | → |
| L Medicine Bow R At Boles Spring | 10 cfs | → |
| Laramie River Near Bosler | 1,950 cfs | → |
| Little Laramie River Near Filmore | 671 cfs | → |
| Pass Creek Near Elk Mountain | 149 cfs | → |
| Medicine Bow R Ab Seminoe Reservoir | 38 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Little Pierce.
Boat launches
- East Allen Lake Boat Launch
- Carbon County
- East Allen Lake Boat Ramp
- Wheatland Reservoir #3 Boat Ramp
- Palmer Canyon Road Albany County
- Wheatland Reservoir #3 Boat Launch
Campgrounds
- East Allen Lake Public Access - Wgf
- Deep Creek
- Bow River Campground
- Bow River
- Bow River Ranger Station
- Wheatland Reservoir No. 3/Post Lake Access - Wgf
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
More reservoirs
Track Little Pierce 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 Little Pierce
Where does the data for Little Pierce 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 Little Pierce.