Ketchum Butte dam
Ketchum Butte
Ketchum Butte is a private earth dam located in Carbon County, Wyoming, specifically along Wild Cow Creek. Completed in 2001 by Rio Verde Engineering, this dam serves multiple purposes including fire protection, stock watering, and creating a small fish pond. With a height of 28 feet and a length of 652 feet, Ketchum Butte has a storage capacity of 148 acre-feet and covers a surface area of 10.6 acres.
Despite its low hazard potential, Ketchum Butte's condition assessment is rated as poor, with the last inspection in August 2017. The dam's hydraulic height is 22 feet, and it has an uncontrolled spillway with a width of 30 feet. The outlet gates consist of a single valve. While the risk assessment is moderate, there are no specific risk management measures outlined for this dam.
Situated in a picturesque location, Ketchum Butte provides essential water resources for the surrounding area while also offering recreational opportunities and wildlife habitat. For water resource and climate enthusiasts, the unique design and purpose of this dam make it a fascinating structure to study and appreciate in the beautiful Wyoming landscape.
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 Ketchum Butte -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Muddy Creek Below Young Draw | 3 cfs | → |
| Little Snake River Near Dixon | 415 cfs | → |
| Slater Fork Near Slater | 62 cfs | → |
| Jack Creek Above Coyote Draw | 133 cfs | → |
| Little Snake River Near Slater | 317 cfs | → |
| Encampment River At Mouth | 621 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Ketchum Butte.
Boat launches
Campgrounds
- Jack Creek
- Jack Creek Guard Station
- Jack Creek Crew Quarters
- Sandstone Cabin
- Teton Reservoir
- Teton Reservoir Campsite 2
Fishing spots
Track Ketchum Butte 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 Ketchum Butte
Where does the data for Ketchum Butte 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 Ketchum Butte.