Turner & Swank dam
Turner & Swank
Turner & Swank is a historic irrigation dam located in Wyoming, specifically in the city of MONARCH. Built in 1911, this private earth dam on DRY CREEK serves the primary purpose of irrigation, with a storage capacity of 226 acre-feet. The dam stands at a height of 30 feet and has a spillway width of 50 feet, with a low hazard potential and fair condition assessment as of the last inspection in June 2021.
Despite its age, Turner & Swank continues to play a vital role in water resource management in the region, providing essential irrigation water for agricultural activities. The dam is regulated and inspected by the State of Wyoming, ensuring its safe operation for the surrounding community. With its stone core and soil foundation, the dam represents a blend of traditional engineering design and modern regulatory oversight, reflecting the importance of balancing water resource needs with environmental sustainability in the face of climate change challenges.
As climate enthusiasts and water resource advocates, the story of Turner & Swank offers a glimpse into the historical development of water infrastructure in Wyoming. With Liz Cheney (R) representing the Congressional District where the dam is located, there is a unique intersection of policy, engineering, and environmental considerations at play. The moderate risk assessment and the presence of emergency preparedness protocols highlight the ongoing efforts to manage potential hazards and ensure the resilience of this important water resource structure in the face of evolving climate conditions.
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 Turner & Swank -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Tongue River Near Dayton | 48 cfs | → |
| East Pass Creek Near Dayton | 12 cfs | → |
| Tongue River At Monarch | 383 cfs | → |
| Goose Creek Near Acme | 123 cfs | → |
| West Pass Creek Near Parkman | 10 cfs | → |
| Prairie Dog Creek Near Acme | 19 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Turner & Swank.
Campgrounds
- Connor Battlefield State Park
- Tongue River Camp - Amsden Creek Wma
- Tongue Canyon Campground
- Sheridan Koa
- Sibley Lake Campground
- Sibley Lake
Fishing spots
- Sheridan Fairgrounds Pond
- Tongue River Fishing Site
- Tongue River Fishing East
- Tongue River Fishing West
- Upper Paintrock Fishing Site
- Lake Desmet
Paddle runs
- Bridge At Tongue River Canyon To Burgess Picnic Grounds
- Sf Tongue- Johnson Creek To Confluence With Nf Tongue
- Nf Tongue From Burgess Picnic Ground To Pole Creek
- Dry Fork River From Its Confluence With Lake Creek To Confluence With Little Big Horn
- Wagon Box Creek To Dry Fork Trail
- Fools Gold Crossing (Fdr 480) To Wagon Box Creek
Track Turner & Swank 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 Turner & Swank
Where does the data for Turner & Swank 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 Turner & Swank.