Baumfalk dam
Baumfalk
Baumfalk is a privately owned dam located in Campbell County, Wyoming, specifically in the city of Hulett. Built in 1939 by designer Walter E. Zipfel, this earth dam stands at a height of 30 feet and serves multiple purposes including fire protection, stock, and a small fish pond. The dam has a normal storage capacity of 185 acre-feet and a maximum storage of 308 acre-feet, with a surface area of 21 acres.
Despite its low hazard potential, Baumfalk is currently assessed to be in poor condition as of August 2018. The dam has an uncontrolled spillway type with a width of 100 feet, and is inspected every 5 years. The risk assessment for the dam is moderate, indicating the need for risk management measures to ensure the safety and integrity of the structure. With a hydraulic height of 25 feet and a length of 655 feet, Baumfalk plays a crucial role in water resource management in the area, particularly for fire protection and agricultural needs.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Baumfalk represents a significant infrastructure in the region, providing essential functions for both human and environmental needs. As a privately owned dam, its maintenance and upkeep are crucial to ensure its continued operation and safety. With a rich history dating back to the late 1930s, Baumfalk stands as a testament to the importance of water storage and management in arid regions like Wyoming. As discussions around climate change and water scarcity continue, dams like Baumfalk will play an increasingly vital role in ensuring water security for communities and 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 Baumfalk -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Donkey Creek Near Gillette | 0 cfs | → |
| Stonepile Creek At Mouth | 3 cfs | → |
| Belle Fourche R Bl Rattlesnake C Nr Piney Wy | 0 cfs | → |
| Belle Fourche River Below Moorcroft | 5 cfs | → |
| Wild Horse Creek Near Arvada | 0 cfs | → |
| Little Powder River Ab Dry Creek | 3 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Baumfalk.
Fishing spots
Track Baumfalk 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 Baumfalk
Where does the data for Baumfalk 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 Baumfalk.