Zezas dam
Zezas
Zezas is a privately owned earth dam located in Johnson, Wyoming, with a primary purpose of fire protection, stock, or small fish pond. Built in 1958, this dam stands at 25 feet high and spans 335 feet in length, with a storage capacity of 128 acre-feet. The dam is regulated by the State of Wyoming and undergoes regular inspections, with the last assessment conducted in April 2020 revealing a poor condition assessment. Despite its low hazard potential, the risk assessment for Zezas is moderate, indicating the need for continued monitoring and risk management measures.
Situated on the Road Draw tributary of the Crazy Woman Creek, Zezas serves as a vital water resource for the surrounding area. While it currently operates with an uncontrolled spillway and no outlet gates, the dam provides essential water storage for fire protection and livestock needs. The dam's surface area of 11 acres and normal storage of 73 acre-feet contribute to its significance in the local ecosystem. With Liz Cheney representing Congressional District 00 in Wyoming, Zezas remains an important structure for water management and conservation efforts in the region.
Despite its age and poor condition assessment, Zezas continues to play a crucial role in water resource management in Johnson, Wyoming. As climate change poses increasing challenges to water availability and quality, maintaining and potentially upgrading dams like Zezas will be essential for ensuring sustainable water access for both human and environmental needs. With its moderate risk assessment, Zezas highlights the importance of proactive risk management strategies to safeguard water resources in the face of evolving climatic 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 Zezas -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Nf Powder River Below Pass Creek | 50 cfs | → |
| Clear Creek Near Buffalo | 33 cfs | → |
| North Fork Powder River Near Hazelton | 3 cfs | → |
| Rock Creek Near Buffalo | 70 cfs | → |
| Powder River At Sussex | 144 cfs | → |
| Piney Creek At Kearny | 113 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Zezas.
Campgrounds
- Canyon Campground
- Muddy Guard Cabin
- Crazy Woman Campground
- Lost Cabin Campground
- Lost Cabin
- Pole Creek Cabin
Fishing spots
- Tie Hack Reservoir
- Healy Lake
- Lake Desmet
- Veterans Cove Fishing Site
- Upper Paintrock Fishing Site
- Sheridan Fairgrounds Pond
More reservoirs
Track Zezas 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 Zezas
Where does the data for Zezas 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 Zezas.