Bethurem dam
Bethurem
Bethurem is a private irrigation dam located in Big Horn, Wyoming, along Crystal Creek. Built in 1918, this Earth-type dam stands at a height of 15 feet and has a storage capacity of 73 acre-feet. Despite its age, the dam has a low hazard potential but is rated as being in poor condition as of the last inspection in 2017. It serves primarily for irrigation purposes and features an uncontrolled spillway with two slide gates.
The dam's location in a picturesque setting and its historical significance make it a notable landmark for water resource and climate enthusiasts. Its design and construction, using stone core and soil foundations, reflect early 20th-century engineering practices. However, with its poor condition assessment and moderate risk rating, there is a need for continued monitoring and potential rehabilitation to ensure the safety and longevity of this essential infrastructure.
As climate change impacts water resources and infrastructure resilience, Bethurem serves as a reminder of the importance of maintaining and upgrading aging dams to withstand evolving environmental challenges. With state regulatory oversight and a private ownership model, stakeholders must work together to address the dam's maintenance needs and ensure its continued functionality for irrigation and water management 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 Bethurem -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Bighorn River At Kane | 1,310 cfs | → |
| Shoshone River Near Lovell | 391 cfs | → |
| Shell Creek Near Shell | 74 cfs | → |
| Bighorn River At Basin | 1,010 cfs | → |
| Little Bighorn River At State Line Nr Wyola Mt | 180 cfs | → |
| West Pass Creek Near Parkman | 10 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Bethurem.
Boat launches
- Big Horn County
- Us 14 Greybull
- Harrington Reservoir Boat Ramp
- Wardell Reservoir Boat Ramp
- Barry's Landing Road Carbon County
Campgrounds
- Five Springs Falls Upper Campground
- Five Springs Falls Upper Campsite 4
- Five Springs Falls Upper Campsite 5
- Five Springs Falls Upper Campsite 6
- Five Springs Falls Upper Campsite 3
- Five Springs Falls Upper Campsite 8
Fishing spots
- Big Horn Lake
- Tongue River Fishing West
- Tongue River Fishing East
- Tongue River Fishing Site
- Bighorn Lake
- Upper Paintrock Fishing Site
Track Bethurem 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 Bethurem
Where does the data for Bethurem 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 Bethurem.