Luce dam
Luce
Luce, located in Wyoming along the Paint Creek river, is a privately owned earth dam primarily used for irrigation purposes. Standing at a height of 19 feet with a hydraulic height of 17 feet, this structure was completed in 1912 and has a storage capacity of 1468 acre-feet. Despite its age, Luce is in fair condition with a low hazard potential, making it a reliable asset for water resource management in the region.
Managed by the State of Wyoming and regulated by the SEO, Luce has undergone regular inspections with the last assessment conducted in June 2019. With a spillway width of 20 feet and a single valve outlet gate, this dam is equipped to handle controlled releases in case of excess water flow. The risk assessment for Luce is moderate, indicating a proactive approach to risk management and maintenance to ensure the safety and efficiency of this vital water resource infrastructure.
While Luce may not be a high-profile dam, its importance in supporting agricultural irrigation along Paint Creek cannot be understated. With its strategic location and reliable performance, Luce stands as a testament to the enduring value of water resource infrastructure in sustaining local economies and ecosystems. For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Luce serves as a case study in the effective management and maintenance of historical dams to meet present-day water needs while safeguarding against potential risks.
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 Luce -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Clarks Fork Yellowstone River Nr Belfry Mt | 5,570 cfs | → |
| Shoshone River Below Buffalo Bill Reservoir | 315 cfs | → |
| Rock Creek Near Red Lodge Mt | 443 cfs | → |
| North Fork Shoshone River At Wapiti | 3,750 cfs | → |
| South Fork Shoshone River Ab Buffalo Bill Res | 1,250 cfs | → |
| West Rosebud Creek Near Roscoe Mt | 90 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Luce.
Boat launches
- Luce Reservoir Boat Launch
- Hogan Reservoir Boat Launch
- Clarks Fork Boat Launch
- Beartooth High Lakes Trail Wyoming
- Beartooth Highway Wyoming
- North Fork Shoshone River Boat Ramp
Campgrounds
- Hogan And Luce Campground
- Hogan And Luce Campsite 1
- Hogan And Luce Campsite 2
- Hogan And Luce Campsite 3
- Hogan And Luce Campsite 4
- Hogan And Luce Campsite 5
Fishing spots
Track Luce 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 Luce
Where does the data for Luce 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 Luce.