Sederlin dam
Sederlin
Sederlin is a private irrigation dam located in Carbon County, Wyoming, along the Fish Creek river. Built in 1910, this earth dam stands at 7 feet high and spans a length of 510 feet, with a storage capacity of 173 acre-feet. Despite its poor condition assessment and low hazard potential, Sederlin plays a crucial role in providing water for irrigation purposes in the region.
With its uncontrolled spillway and outlet gates, Sederlin poses a moderate risk, prompting a 5-year inspection frequency to ensure its structural integrity. The dam's location in Alcova, Wyoming, under the regulatory oversight of the Wyoming State Engineer's Office, underscores the importance of maintaining and monitoring this vital water resource. Additionally, the presence of Liz Cheney (R) as the Congressional representative for the area adds a political dimension to the management and oversight of Sederlin.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Sederlin offers a fascinating case study of a historic irrigation dam facing modern challenges in maintenance and risk management. The dam's role in supporting agriculture and wildlife in the region highlights the delicate balance between harnessing water resources for human use while ensuring environmental sustainability. As efforts to address the dam's poor condition and moderate risk continue, Sederlin serves as a reminder of the critical role that water infrastructure plays in shaping our relationship with the natural world and the need for proactive stewardship to protect these valuable resources.
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 Sederlin -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Pass Creek Near Elk Mountain | 149 cfs | → |
| Rock Creek Ab King Canyon Canal | 384 cfs | → |
| North Brush Creek Near Saratoga | 142 cfs | → |
| South Brush Creek Near Saratoga | 18 cfs | → |
| L Medicine Bow R At Boles Spring | 9 cfs | → |
| Medicine Bow R Ab Seminoe Reservoir | 36 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Sederlin.
Boat launches
- Carbon County
- East Allen Lake Boat Ramp
- East Allen Lake Boat Launch
- Blm 3404 Carbon County
- Bennett Creek Campground Boat Ramp
- Shiners Point Road Carbon County
Campgrounds
- Bow River Ranger Station
- Bow River
- Bow River Campground
- Deep Creek
- East Allen Lake Public Access - Wgf
- Lincoln Park Campground
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
Track Sederlin 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 Sederlin
Where does the data for Sederlin 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 Sederlin.