Lower Snake Draw (4th Enl.) Dam
Lower Snake Draw (4th Enl.)
Located in Sweetwater, Wyoming, the Lower Snake Draw (4th Enl.) dam serves a primary purpose of tailings management and is privately owned. Constructed in 1998, this earth dam stands at a height of 85 feet with a hydraulic height of 80 feet and a length of 12,672 feet. The dam has a storage capacity of 38,938 acre-feet and covers a surface area of 1,504 acres, with a drainage area of 6.1 square miles.
Despite having no spillway, the dam is considered to have a significant hazard potential with fair condition assessment as of the last inspection in May 2021. The risk assessment categorizes the dam as high risk, with a risk level of 2. The dam is under state regulation and jurisdiction, with permitting, inspection, and enforcement conducted by the State Engineer's Office (SEO) in Wyoming. The dam's designer is identified as John Wallace from IGES, Inc., and the dam is situated along the Snake Draw river in Green River, Wyoming.
With its strategic location and key role in managing tailings, the Lower Snake Draw (4th Enl.) dam presents a significant asset in Wyoming's water resource infrastructure. Enthusiasts of water resources and climate will find this dam's design and operational details intriguing, especially given its high risk profile and the regulatory oversight it undergoes. This dam serves as a critical component in the state's water management system, highlighting the importance of maintaining and monitoring such structures to ensure public safety and environmental protection.
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 Lower Snake Draw (4th Enl.) -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Blacks Fork Near Little America | 2 cfs | → |
| Green River Near Green River | 499 cfs | → |
| Green River Below Fontenelle Reservoir | 669 cfs | → |
| Henrys Fork Near Manila | 48 cfs | → |
| Pacific Creek Near Farson | 3 cfs | → |
| Green River Near La Barge | 1,620 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Lower Snake Draw (4th Enl.).
Boat launches
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Campgrounds
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Fishing spots
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River runs
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About Lower Snake Draw (4th Enl.)
Where does the data for Lower Snake Draw (4th Enl.) 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 below 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.
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.