Thomas dam
Thomas
Thomas is a private irrigation dam located in Park County, Wyoming, specifically in the city of Meeteetse. Built in 1949, this earth dam stands at a height of 56 feet and has a storage capacity of 1104 acre-feet. Despite its historical significance in providing water for agricultural purposes, Thomas has been assessed as being in poor condition, with a low hazard potential and moderate risk rating.
Situated on the N Rawhide Creek, Thomas serves as a crucial water resource for the surrounding area, with a spillway width of 20 feet and a single valve outlet gate. While it is state-regulated and regularly inspected, concerns have been raised about its structural integrity and overall maintenance. With Liz Cheney representing the Congressional District in which Thomas resides, there is a growing need for enhanced risk management measures and potential rehabilitation efforts to ensure the safety and sustainability of this vital water infrastructure.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Thomas presents an intriguing case study of a historic irrigation dam facing challenges related to aging infrastructure and risk assessment. As discussions around dam safety and resilience continue to evolve, the future of Thomas and its role in water management in Wyoming will undoubtedly be a topic of interest and concern. With its unique design and location, Thomas serves as a reminder of the importance of proactive maintenance and monitoring in ensuring the long-term viability of water infrastructure in the face of changing environmental conditions.
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 Thomas -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| South Fork Shoshone River Ab Buffalo Bill Res | 1,250 cfs | → |
| Greybull River At Meeteetse | 338 cfs | → |
| South Fork Shoshone River Near Valley | 187 cfs | → |
| North Fork Shoshone River At Wapiti | 3,750 cfs | → |
| Shoshone River Below Buffalo Bill Reservoir | 315 cfs | → |
| Cottonwood C At High Island Rnch Nr Hamilton Dome | 1 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Thomas.
Boat launches
Campgrounds
- Bobcat-Houlihan Lower Camping Area
- Bobcat-Houlihan Recreation Area
- Bobcat-Houlihan Upper Camping Area
- Buffalo Bill State Park
- Brown Mountain Campground
- Brown Mountain
Track Thomas 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 Thomas
Where does the data for Thomas 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 Thomas.