Spring Draw dam
Spring Draw
Spring Draw, located in Weston, Wyoming, is a privately owned earth dam completed in 1959 for fire protection, stock, and small fish pond purposes. The dam stands at a height of 25 feet with a hydraulic height of 20 feet, and a length of 310 feet. It has a storage capacity of 78 acre-feet, with a normal storage of 54 acre-feet and a surface area of 5 acres. The dam is regulated by the State of Wyoming and undergoes inspections every 5 years, with a low hazard potential and poor condition assessment as of the last inspection in August 2019.
Although Spring Draw has a moderate risk level, with a risk assessment rating of 3, it currently lacks an Emergency Action Plan (EAP) and updated emergency contacts. The dam's spillway type is uncontrolled with a width of 50 feet, and it is equipped with one valve outlet gate. The dam is situated in a region represented by Liz Cheney (R) in Congressional District 00, Wyoming, and falls within the jurisdiction of the State of Wyoming Regulatory Agency. Despite its poor condition assessment, Spring Draw continues to serve its primary purposes effectively, contributing to the local fire protection and irrigation needs in the area.
Water resource and climate enthusiasts interested in Spring Draw can appreciate its historical significance as a critical infrastructure for local water management in Edgemont S D, Wyoming. The dam's strategic location on the Spring Draw river offers valuable insights into the challenges and opportunities associated with maintaining aging earth dams for multiple uses such as fire protection and stock watering. As efforts to address climate change intensify, understanding the condition and risk assessment of structures like Spring Draw becomes essential for sustainable water resource management and emergency preparedness 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 Spring Draw -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Cheyenne River Near Spencer | 2 cfs | → |
| Stockade Beaver Creek Near Newcastle | 18 cfs | → |
| Cheyenne R At Edgemont Sd | 4 cfs | → |
| Belle Fourche R Bl Rattlesnake C Nr Piney Wy | 0 cfs | → |
| Beaver Creek At Mallo Camp | 3 cfs | → |
| Cold Springs Creek At Buckhorn | 4 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Spring Draw.
Track Spring 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 Spring Draw
Where does the data for Spring 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 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 Spring Draw.