Squirrel Tail Dam dam
Squirrel Tail Dam
Squirrel Tail Dam, located in Hot Springs, Wyoming, is a gravity dam primarily used for water supply purposes. Constructed in 2003 by the Bureau of Land Management, this dam stands at a structural height of 29 feet and has a hydraulic height of 23 feet. With a storage capacity of 30.16 acre-feet and a surface area of 3.3 acres, Squirrel Tail Dam plays a crucial role in managing water resources in the region.
Owned and regulated by the federal government, specifically the Bureau of Land Management, Squirrel Tail Dam has been inspected regularly to ensure its safety and functionality. With a low hazard potential and a satisfactory condition assessment, this dam is deemed to be in good standing. Despite the high risk assessment due to its location near the Big Horn River, appropriate risk management measures have been implemented to mitigate any potential threats.
As a vital infrastructure for water resource management in the area, Squirrel Tail Dam serves as a key component in ensuring water supply reliability for surrounding communities. With its strategic location and careful regulatory oversight, this dam exemplifies the importance of maintaining and monitoring our water resources in the face of changing climate conditions.
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 Squirrel Tail Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Bighorn R At Worland Wyo | 4,350 cfs | → |
| Wind R Bl Boysen Res Wyo | 819 cfs | → |
| Cottonwood C At High Island Rnch Nr Hamilton Dome | 1 cfs | → |
| Bighorn River At Basin | 1,300 cfs | → |
| Fivemile Creek Near Shoshoni | 81 cfs | → |
| Middle Fork Powder River Near Barnum | 19 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Squirrel Tail Dam.
Boat launches
Campgrounds
- Wyoming Garden And Rv
- Castle Gardens Scenic Area Campsite 3
- Castle Gardens Scenic Area Campground
- Castle Gardens Scenic Area Campsite 1
- Castle Gardens Scenic Area Campsite 2
- Boysen State Park
Track Squirrel Tail Dam 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 Squirrel Tail Dam
Where does the data for Squirrel Tail Dam 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 Squirrel Tail Dam.