Brown No. 1 dam
Brown No. 1
Brown No. 1, located in Big Horn, Wyoming, is an earth dam constructed in 1913 for irrigation purposes on Crystal Creek. With a height of 30 feet and a hydraulic height of 25 feet, this dam has a storage capacity of 248 acre-feet, providing essential water resources for the surrounding area. Despite its historical significance, the dam is in poor condition as of the last inspection in 2017, with a low hazard potential but a moderate risk assessment rating.
Managed by a private owner, Brown No. 1 is under state jurisdiction and regulation, with permitting, inspection, and enforcement processes in place. It is equipped with an uncontrolled spillway and a single outlet gate. Although the dam has not been modified in recent years, its poor condition highlights the need for maintenance and potential risk management measures to ensure its continued functionality and safety. For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Brown No. 1 serves as a reminder of the importance of maintaining and monitoring aging infrastructure to safeguard against potential hazards and ensure sustainable 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 Brown No. 1 -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Bighorn River At Kane | 1,310 cfs | → |
| Shell Creek Near Shell | 74 cfs | → |
| Bighorn River At Basin | 1,010 cfs | → |
| Shoshone River Near Lovell | 391 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 Brown No. 1.
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 3
- Five Springs Falls Upper Campsite 6
- Five Springs Falls Upper Campsite 7
Fishing spots
- Big Horn Lake
- Tongue River Fishing West
- Tongue River Fishing East
- Tongue River Fishing Site
- Bighorn Lake
- Upper Paintrock Fishing Site
Paddle runs
- Cottonwood Creek
- Cow Creek
- Porcupine Creek
- Western Boundary Of Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area To Confluence With Bighorn River
More reservoirs
Track Brown No. 1 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 Brown No. 1
Where does the data for Brown No. 1 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 Brown No. 1.