Lower Sunshine dam
Lower Sunshine
Lower Sunshine is a privately owned earth dam located in Park County, Wyoming, specifically in the city of Meetetse. Built in 1972 by designer John S. Beveman, this dam serves primarily for irrigation purposes, with secondary functions including fire protection, stock watering, and small fish pond creation. Standing at a height of 162 feet and a length of 1660 feet, Lower Sunshine has a storage capacity of 71,800 acre-feet and covers a surface area of 1049 acres.
This dam is situated on Sunshine Creek offstream and is regulated by the Wyoming State Engineer's Office. Despite being classified as having a high hazard potential, Lower Sunshine is currently assessed to be in fair condition as of May 2021. With a moderate risk assessment rating, the dam has an uncontrolled spillway with a width of 40 feet and is equipped with four valve outlet gates. Regular inspections are carried out every five years to ensure the safety and integrity of the structure, indicating a commitment to proper maintenance and risk management practices.
As a crucial water resource infrastructure in the region, Lower Sunshine plays a vital role in supporting agricultural activities and maintaining water supply for the surrounding area. With its strategic location and significant storage capacity, this dam serves as a key asset for water management and climate resilience efforts in Park County, Wyoming.
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 Lower Sunshine -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Greybull River At Meeteetse | 338 cfs | → |
| South Fork Shoshone River Ab Buffalo Bill Res | 1,250 cfs | → |
| Cottonwood C At High Island Rnch Nr Hamilton Dome | 1 cfs | → |
| Shoshone River Below Buffalo Bill Reservoir | 315 cfs | → |
| South Fork Shoshone River Near Valley | 187 cfs | → |
| North Fork Shoshone River At Wapiti | 3,750 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Lower Sunshine.
Campgrounds
- Wood River
- Brown Mountain Campground
- Brown Mountain
- Bobcat-Houlihan Lower Camping Area
- Bobcat-Houlihan Recreation Area
- Bobcat-Houlihan Upper Camping Area
Fishing spots
- Sunshine Lake (Lower)
- Sunshine Reservoir (Upper)
- Buffalo Bill Reservoir
- Newton Lakes
- Torrey Lake
- Ring Lake
More reservoirs
Track Lower Sunshine 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 Lower Sunshine
Where does the data for Lower Sunshine 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 Lower Sunshine.