Simmons dam
Simmons
Simmons is a privately owned dam located in Johnson, Wyoming, along the Simmons Draw River. Built in 1962, this earth dam stands at 25 feet high and serves multiple purposes including fire protection, stock watering, and small fish pond management. With a storage capacity of 49 acre-feet, the dam covers a surface area of 3 acres and has a spillway width of 80 feet. Despite having a low hazard potential and fair condition assessment, the dam is regulated by the Wyoming State Engineer's Office with regular inspections and enforcement measures in place.
The Simmons dam plays a crucial role in water resource management in the region, providing essential services for both agricultural and ecological purposes. Its location in a congressional district represented by Liz Cheney underscores its importance in the local community. With a moderate risk assessment rating of 3 out of 5, the dam is subject to ongoing risk management measures to ensure its safe operation and prevent potential hazards. Although the dam has not undergone recent modifications, it is equipped with an uncontrolled spillway and lacks outlet gates.
Climate and water resource enthusiasts can appreciate the intricate details of the Simmons dam, from its construction history to its current operational status. As a key infrastructure for fire protection and irrigation, this dam exemplifies the intersection of human engineering and natural resource management. With its regulated status and regular inspections, Simmons stands as a model for responsible dam ownership and maintenance in the face of changing environmental conditions and increasing water demands.
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 Simmons -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| North Fork Powder River Near Hazelton | 3 cfs | → |
| Nf Powder River Below Pass Creek | 50 cfs | → |
| Middle Fork Powder River Near Barnum | 22 cfs | → |
| Clear Creek Near Buffalo | 33 cfs | → |
| South Piney Creek At Willow Park | 0 cfs | → |
| Rock Creek Near Buffalo | 70 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Simmons.
Campgrounds
Fishing spots
Track Simmons 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 Simmons
Where does the data for Simmons 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 Simmons.