Sucker Lake dam
Sucker Lake
Sucker Lake, located in Carbon County, Wyoming, is a privately owned earth dam primarily used for irrigation purposes. The dam, completed in 1931, stands at a height of 13 feet and has a storage capacity of 140 acre-feet. It is situated along North French Creek, approximately 30 miles away from Saratoga. Despite having a low hazard potential, the dam's condition assessment is rated as poor, emphasizing the need for maintenance and potential upgrades to ensure its long-term stability.
With a surface area of 7 acres and a drainage area of 0, Sucker Lake serves as a crucial water resource for the surrounding area. The dam features an uncontrolled spillway with a width of 12 feet and is equipped with a single valve outlet gate. Although the risk assessment for the dam is moderate, there is a pressing need for regular inspections and risk management measures to address its deteriorating condition. The dam's poor condition, coupled with its outdated infrastructure, highlights the importance of proactive maintenance to safeguard its functionality and prevent any potential hazards.
As climate change continues to impact water resources, the significance of maintaining and upgrading dams like Sucker Lake becomes increasingly apparent. With its strategic location and historical importance in irrigation, the dam plays a vital role in water management in the region. Addressing the dam's current poor condition and implementing necessary risk management measures will be crucial in ensuring its resilience in the face of changing climate patterns and preserving its role as a valuable water resource 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 Sucker Lake -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| South Brush Creek Near Saratoga | 18 cfs | → |
| North Brush Creek Near Saratoga | 142 cfs | → |
| Little Laramie River Near Filmore | 671 cfs | → |
| Rock Creek Ab King Canyon Canal | 384 cfs | → |
| Encampment River At Mouth | 621 cfs | → |
| Pass Creek Near Elk Mountain | 149 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Sucker Lake.
Boat launches
- Blm 3404 Carbon County
- Bennett Creek Campground Boat Ramp
- Lake Hattie Reservoir Boat Ramp
- Lake Hattie Road Albany County
- Twin Buttes Reservoir Boat Ramp
- Twin Buttes Reservoir Boat Launch
Campgrounds
- Silver Lake
- Snow Survey Cabin
- Sugarloaf
- Little Brooklyn Guard Station
- Brooklyn Lake Campground
- Brooklyn Lake
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
Track Sucker Lake 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 Sucker Lake
Where does the data for Sucker Lake 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 Sucker Lake.