Harris dam
Harris
Harris, a private water resource pond located in Niobrara, Wyoming, serves as a vital habitat for fish and wildlife. Built in 2000, this earth dam structure stands at 35 feet tall with a hydraulic height of 20 feet and a dam length of 428 feet. The pond has a storage capacity of 281 acre-feet, with a normal storage level of 130 acre-feet, covering a surface area of 22.9 acres and draining an area of 8.4 acres. Harris is regulated and inspected by the Wyoming State Engineer's Office, ensuring its safety and compliance with state regulations.
The primary purpose of Harris is to support fish and wildlife, with additional benefits including fire protection and stock watering. The dam features an uncontrolled spillway with a width of 50 feet and an outlet valve for water release. Despite its fair condition assessment, Harris has a low hazard potential, with a moderate risk assessment score of 3. The dam undergoes inspections every 5 years to ensure its continued safety and functionality, with the last inspection conducted in June 2020. Overall, Harris serves as a valuable resource for the local ecosystem and community, providing essential water storage and habitat support in the region.
Located on an unnamed ranch off County Road in Niobrara, Wyoming, Harris is situated along the Bum Draw river or stream. Managed by private owners, the pond plays a crucial role in maintaining the ecological balance in the area. With Liz Cheney (R) representing Congressional District 00 in Wyoming, Harris stands as a noteworthy example of sustainable water resource management, contributing to the conservation of wildlife and natural resources in the region.
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 Harris -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Cheyenne River Near Spencer | 2 cfs | → |
| Stockade Beaver Creek Near Newcastle | 18 cfs | → |
| Cheyenne R At Edgemont Sd | 4 cfs | → |
| Hat Cr Near Edgemont Sd | 0 cfs | → |
| Beaver Creek At Mallo Camp | 3 cfs | → |
| Castle Cr Above Deerfield Res Near Hill City Sd | 11 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Harris.
Track Harris 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 Harris
Where does the data for Harris 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 Harris.