Alkai Reservoir dam
Alkai Reservoir
Alkai Reservoir in Wyoming, managed by the Bureau of Land Management, serves multiple purposes including fire protection, stock watering, and as a small fish pond. Completed in 1968, this gravity dam stands at a structural height of 23 feet and has a storage capacity of 25.22 acre-feet. The reservoir covers a surface area of 9.98 acres and is located in Fremont County near the town of Lysite.
With a low hazard potential but an unsatisfactory condition assessment, Alkai Reservoir poses a very high risk according to its risk assessment. Despite being regularly inspected by the Bureau of Land Management, the reservoir lacks an emergency action plan and has not been updated in recent years. Although the reservoir has a controlled spillway, it does not have outlet gates, and its drainage area is relatively small at 4.6 square miles. Water from the reservoir is sourced from Soda Draw Aikali Creek, making it an important water resource for the surrounding area.
Enthusiasts of water resources and climate in the region will find the Alkai Reservoir an intriguing case study due to its unique combination of purposes, structural design, and risk profile. As climate change continues to impact water resources, understanding the management and maintenance challenges faced by reservoirs like Alkai will be crucial for ensuring their long-term sustainability and effectiveness in serving the needs of local communities and ecosystems.
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 Alkai Reservoir -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Middle Fork Powder River Near Barnum | 19 cfs | → |
| Fivemile Creek Near Shoshoni | 97 cfs | → |
| Wind River Ab Boysen Reservoir | 485 cfs | → |
| Wind R Bl Boysen Res Wyo | 819 cfs | → |
| Wind River At Riverton | 222 cfs | → |
| Little Wind River Near Riverton | 697 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Alkai Reservoir.
Track Alkai Reservoir 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 Alkai Reservoir
Where does the data for Alkai Reservoir 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 Alkai Reservoir.