Lake Creek dam
Lake Creek
Lake Creek is a privately owned irrigation dam located in Hot Springs, Wyoming, near the city of Worland. Completed in 1938, this earth dam stands at a height of 45 feet and has a hydraulic height of 40 feet. The dam's primary purpose is irrigation, with a capacity to store 1683 acre-feet of water and covering a surface area of 59 acres. Despite its age, the dam's hazard potential is classified as low, with a fair condition assessment as of the last inspection in August 2020.
Situated on the Lake Creek river, this structure plays a vital role in water resource management in the region, serving the agricultural community in maintaining water supply for irrigation purposes. With its uncontrolled spillway and one valve outlet gate, the dam has been regulated and inspected by the Wyoming State Energy Office, ensuring its continued safe operation. The risk assessment for Lake Creek indicates a moderate level, prompting the need for ongoing risk management measures to address any potential issues that may arise in the future.
Lake Creek's presence highlights the importance of sustainable water resource management in the face of changing climate conditions. As climate enthusiasts monitor and analyze data on water resources, understanding the infrastructure and operations of dams like Lake Creek provides valuable insight into the challenges and opportunities for ensuring water security in the region. With its historical significance and functional role in irrigation, Lake Creek stands as a key landmark in the water management landscape of Wyoming, embodying the intersection of human intervention and natural water systems in the context of climate variability.
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 Lake Creek -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Cottonwood C At High Island Rnch Nr Hamilton Dome | 1 cfs | → |
| Greybull River At Meeteetse | 338 cfs | → |
| Wind River Above Red Creek | 908 cfs | → |
| Wind River Near Crowheart | 1,630 cfs | → |
| Bull Lake Creek Near Lenore | 831 cfs | → |
| Dinwoody Creek Above Lakes | 104 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Lake Creek.
Fishing spots
Track Lake Creek 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 Lake Creek
Where does the data for Lake Creek 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.