Oak Creek dam
Oak Creek
Oak Creek, located in Crook, Wyoming, is a privately owned irrigation dam completed in 1976 by designer Donald J. Mathesen. This earth dam stands at a height of 41 feet and serves multiple purposes including fire protection, stock, small fish ponds, and irrigation. With a maximum storage capacity of 2500 acre-feet and a normal storage of 915 acre-feet, Oak Creek covers a surface area of 105 acres and drains an area of 45 square miles.
Despite its significant hazard potential and poor condition assessment, Oak Creek has a moderate risk rating and is regulated by the Wyoming State Engineer's Office. The dam features an uncontrolled spillway with a width of 90 feet and is equipped with slide (sluice gate) outlet gates. While last inspected in April 2020 with a 5-year inspection frequency, Oak Creek's risk management measures and emergency action plan status are currently undocumented. Overall, Oak Creek presents an intriguing case study for water resource and climate enthusiasts interested in dam infrastructure and risk assessment in the western United States.
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 Oak Creek -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Belle Fourche R At Wy-Sd State Line | 6 cfs | → |
| Murray Ditch Ab Headgate At Wy-Sd State Line | 11 cfs | → |
| Redwater Cr At Wy-Sd State Line | 13 cfs | → |
| Crow Creek Near Beulah | 32 cfs | → |
| Redwater River Above Belle Fourche Sd | 34 cfs | → |
| Sand Creek Near Ranch A | 36 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Oak Creek.
Campgrounds
- Bearlodge - Usfs
- Bearlodge
- Bearlodge Campground
- Sand Creek Public Access - East Oxbow - Wgf
- Sand Creek Public Access - Rogers - Wgf
- Sand Creek Public Access - Wgf
Fishing spots
- Yates Pond
- Keyhole Reservoir
- Turner Creek Reservoir
- Deerfield Reservoir Complex
- Veterans Point Fishing Pier
- Rapid Creek Trailhead & Fishing Access
More reservoirs
Track Oak 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 Oak Creek
Where does the data for Oak 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 Significant 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 Oak Creek.