Point Of Rocks dam
Point Of Rocks
Located in Albany County, Wyoming, the Point of Rocks dam stands as a vital structure along the South Branch of South Chugwater River. Built in 1975 by designer Donald R. Lamb, this earth dam serves multiple purposes, including flood risk reduction and the creation of a fish and wildlife pond. With a height of 26 feet and a length of 250 feet, the dam boasts a storage capacity of 62 acre-feet and a surface area of 5 acres.
Despite its low hazard potential, the dam's condition assessment is rated as poor, prompting the need for regular inspections and maintenance. The last inspection in June 2020 revealed the dam to be in need of attention. The Point of Rocks dam is regulated by the Wyoming State Engineer's Office, with enforcement and permitting responsibilities also falling under state jurisdiction.
As climate change continues to impact water resources, the Point of Rocks dam serves as a crucial infrastructure for managing flood risks and supporting local wildlife. With its strategic location in Chugwater and proximity to the Omaha District of the US Army Corps of Engineers, this dam plays a key role in water management efforts in Wyoming.
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 Point Of Rocks -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Laramie River Near Bosler | 1,950 cfs | → |
| Laramie River At Laramie | 125 cfs | → |
| Sybille Creek Ab Mule Creek | 143 cfs | → |
| Sybille Creek Ab Canal No. 3 | 93 cfs | → |
| Little Laramie River Near Filmore | 671 cfs | → |
| Pioneer Canal Near Woods | 174 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Point Of Rocks.
Boat launches
- Herrick Lane Albany County
- Albany County
- Twin Buttes Reservoir Boat Launch
- Twin Buttes Reservoir Boat Ramp
- Palmer Canyon Road Albany County
- Wheatland Reservoir #3 Boat Ramp
Campgrounds
- Yellow Pine
- Yellow Pine Campground
- Tie City
- Pole Creek Dispersed Campground
- Tie City Campground
- Curt Gowdy State Park
Fishing spots
- Alsop Lake
- Upper North Crow Reservoir
- Lower North Crow Reservoir
- Leazenby Lake
- Granite Springs Reservoir
- Gelatt Lake
Paddle runs
- Duck Creek
- Co Dow Anlger Access Trail To Nf Boundary On East Section Line, Sec 24, T11n, R72w
- Upper North Fork
- Intermittent Stream To Junction With Co Division Of Wildlife Angler Access Trail In Sw 1/4 Sec 22, T11n, R72w
- Road West Of Creedmore Lakes To Junction Of Intermittent Stream In Sw 1/4, Sec 29, T11n, R72w
More reservoirs
Track Point Of Rocks 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 Point Of Rocks
Where does the data for Point Of Rocks 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 Point Of Rocks.