Box Elder Draw Stock dam
Box Elder Draw Stock
Box Elder Draw Stock, located in Sheridan, Wyoming, is a privately owned earth dam completed in 1988 primarily used for fire protection, stock watering, and as a small fish pond. The dam stands at a height of 20 feet with a hydraulic height of 15 feet and a length of 365 feet. The reservoir has a storage capacity of 88 acre-feet and covers a surface area of 16 acres, serving a drainage area of 0.5 square miles.
Despite its low hazard potential, Box Elder Draw Stock is currently in poor condition as assessed during the last inspection in September 2019. The dam lacks outlet gates and relies on an uncontrolled spillway with a width of 95 feet to manage excess water. With a moderate risk rating of 3, there is a need for improved risk management measures to ensure the safety and stability of the structure. The dam is under the jurisdiction of the state regulatory agency and is subject to regular inspections and enforcement.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Box Elder Draw Stock presents an interesting case study of a small-scale dam with multiple purposes in a semi-arid region. The dam's association with the Box Elder Draw stream highlights the importance of water management for both agricultural and environmental needs. As discussions around dam safety and maintenance continue, the condition of Box Elder Draw Stock serves as a reminder of the ongoing challenges in managing water resources in the face of changing climate patterns and increasing 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 Box Elder Draw Stock -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Clear Creek Near Arvada | 256 cfs | → |
| Powder River At Arvada | 84 cfs | → |
| Powder River At Moorhead Mt | 43 cfs | → |
| Wild Horse Creek Near Arvada | 0 cfs | → |
| Prairie Dog Creek Near Acme | 19 cfs | → |
| Tongue River At State Line Nr Decker Mt | 403 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Box Elder Draw Stock.
Track Box Elder Draw Stock 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 Box Elder Draw Stock
Where does the data for Box Elder Draw Stock 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 Box Elder Draw Stock.