Paul No. 3 dam
Paul No. 3
Paul No. 3 is a privately-owned dam located in Sheridan, Wyoming, specifically in the city of Decker along Wild Cat Creek. Completed in 1952, this earth dam stands at a height of 22 feet and has a primary purpose of water supply. With a storage capacity of 110 acre-feet, the dam serves as a vital resource for the surrounding area, offering a normal storage of 55 acre-feet and covering a surface area of 9 acres.
Despite its low hazard potential, Paul No. 3 is currently assessed as being in poor condition as of March 2021. The dam has a moderate risk rating, indicating potential issues that need to be addressed. With a history of state regulation and inspection, it is crucial for the dam's owners to implement necessary risk management measures to ensure the safety and longevity of this important water resource infrastructure.
As water resource and climate enthusiasts, understanding the state of infrastructure like Paul No. 3 is essential for maintaining the resilience of our water supply systems in the face of a changing climate. By prioritizing maintenance and risk management, we can help safeguard these critical assets for future generations and ensure sustainable water management practices 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 Paul No. 3 -- 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 | → |
| Piney Creek At Kearny | 113 cfs | → |
| Rock Creek Near Buffalo | 70 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Paul No. 3.
Campgrounds
- Washington Park - Sheridan
- Sheridan Koa
- Connor Battlefield State Park
- Little Goose Campground
- Ranger Creek - Tongue
- Big Goose Campground
Fishing spots
- Sheridan Fairgrounds Pond
- Lake Desmet
- Healy Lake
- Tie Hack Reservoir
- Tongue River Fishing Site
- Upper Paintrock Fishing Site
Track Paul No. 3 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 Paul No. 3
Where does the data for Paul No. 3 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 Paul No. 3.