Kearney Lake dam
Kearney Lake
Kearney Lake in Wyoming serves as a vital water resource for irrigation purposes, with a primary dam type being earth and a height of 67 feet. Completed in 1963, the reservoir has a storage capacity of 7,500 acre-feet and covers a surface area of 193 acres. Located in Johnson County, near the city of Story, Kearney Lake is fed by the North Fork South Piney Creek and has a drainage area of 15.7 square miles.
Despite being privately owned, Kearney Lake falls under state jurisdiction and is regulated by the Wyoming State Engineer's Office. The dam has a high hazard potential but is currently in fair condition, with the last inspection taking place in August 2017. With a maximum discharge of 1,000 cubic feet per second and an uncontrolled spillway, Kearney Lake poses moderate risk, making risk management measures essential for its continued operation and safety.
Enthusiasts of water resources and climate will appreciate Kearney Lake's importance in supporting agricultural activities in the region and the need for ongoing monitoring and maintenance to ensure its structural integrity and safe operation. The reservoir's location within the Omaha District of the US Army Corps of Engineers highlights its significance in water management and underscores the critical role it plays in sustaining the local ecosystem and economy.
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 Kearney Lake -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| South Piney Creek At Willow Park | 0 cfs | → |
| Rock Creek Near Buffalo | 70 cfs | → |
| Shell Creek Above Shell Creek Reservoir | 12 cfs | → |
| Piney Creek At Kearny | 113 cfs | → |
| Clear Creek Near Buffalo | 35 cfs | → |
| Tongue River Near Dayton | 48 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Kearney Lake.
Campgrounds
- Coffeen Park Campground
- Coffeen Park
- Cross Creek Campground
- Little Goose Campground
- Hunter Corral Campground
- Big Goose Campground
Fishing spots
- Upper Paintrock Fishing Site
- Tie Hack Reservoir
- Lake Desmet
- Veterans Cove Fishing Site
- Sheridan Fairgrounds Pond
- Healy Lake
Paddle runs
More reservoirs
Track Kearney 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 Kearney Lake
Where does the data for Kearney 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 High 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 Kearney Lake.