Windy Draw dam
Windy Draw
Located in Sheridan, Wyoming, Windy Draw is a private irrigation dam designed by Walter J Pilch and completed in 1965. This Earth dam stands at a height of 59 feet and has a storage capacity of 1370 acre-feet, primarily used for irrigation purposes. With a normal storage capacity of 533 acre-feet and a surface area of 38 acres, Windy Draw serves the local community in Acme for fire protection, stock watering, and small fish ponds in addition to irrigation.
The dam has a high hazard potential and is classified as being in fair condition as of the last assessment in May 2020. With a spillway width of 134 feet and a maximum discharge capacity of 15,680 cubic feet per second, Windy Draw has measures in place for uncontrolled spillway release. Despite the moderate risk assessment of level 3, the dam is inspected every five years to ensure its structural integrity and the safety of the surrounding area. Overall, Windy Draw plays a crucial role in water resource management and climate resilience efforts in the region.
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 Windy Draw -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Goose Creek Near Acme | 123 cfs | → |
| Tongue River At Monarch | 383 cfs | → |
| Prairie Dog Creek Near Acme | 19 cfs | → |
| Tongue River At State Line Nr Decker Mt | 403 cfs | → |
| Tongue River Near Dayton | 48 cfs | → |
| Piney Creek At Kearny | 113 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Windy Draw.
Campgrounds
- Sheridan Koa
- Washington Park - Sheridan
- Connor Battlefield State Park
- Tongue River Camp - Amsden Creek Wma
- Tongue Canyon Campground
- Little Goose Campground
Fishing spots
- Sheridan Fairgrounds Pond
- Lake Desmet
- Tongue River Fishing Site
- Tongue River Fishing East
- Tongue River Fishing West
- Healy Lake
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
- White Creek
- Wagon Box Creek To Dry Fork Trail
Track Windy Draw 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 Windy Draw
Where does the data for Windy Draw 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 Windy Draw.