Fisher dam
Fisher
Fisher, located in Johnson County, Wyoming, is a privately owned dam on Fisher Draw, completed in 1968 for purposes including fire protection, stock, and small fish pond. The dam stands at 24 feet high with a hydraulic height of 22 feet, and a length of 330 feet. It has a storage capacity of 120 acre-feet with a normal storage of 66 acre-feet. Despite its low hazard potential and fair condition assessment, Fisher is regulated by the Wyoming State Engineer's Office and undergoes regular inspections, last conducted in April 2019.
With its proximity to the city of Arvada and a distance of 90 miles, Fisher serves as a crucial water resource for the region. While it does not have associated structures or federal agency involvement, the dam plays a vital role in providing water for fire protection and supporting local agriculture. The dam's location and purpose make it essential for maintaining the ecological balance of the area and ensuring water availability for various needs.
As climate change continues to impact water resources and infrastructure, monitoring and maintaining dams like Fisher are becoming increasingly important. With its state-regulated status and regular inspections, Fisher demonstrates a commitment to ensuring water safety and security in the face of evolving environmental challenges. As water resource and climate enthusiasts, understanding the role of dams like Fisher in sustainable water management is crucial for addressing the growing concerns of water scarcity and climate change impacts on our ecosystems.
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 Fisher -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Powder River At Sussex | 144 cfs | → |
| Nf Powder River Below Pass Creek | 50 cfs | → |
| Middle Fork Powder River Near Barnum | 22 cfs | → |
| North Fork Powder River Near Hazelton | 3 cfs | → |
| Clear Creek Near Buffalo | 33 cfs | → |
| Rock Creek Near Buffalo | 70 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Fisher.
Campgrounds
- Outlaw Cave Campsite 4
- Outlaw Cave Campsite 7
- Outlaw Cave Campsite 5
- Outlaw Cave Campsite 3
- Outlaw Cave Campsite 2
- Outlaw Cave Campsite 6
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- North Fork Red Fork Powder River
- Middle Fork Powder River
- Beartrap Creek
- Powder River (Cantonment Reno)
More reservoirs
Track Fisher 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 Fisher
Where does the data for Fisher 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.