Poison Creek No. 1 dam
Poison Creek No. 1
Poison Creek No. 1 is a private irrigation dam located in Wyoming, specifically in the city of Young Reservoir. Built in 1999, this Earth dam stands at a height of 30 feet and has a storage capacity of 33 acre-feet, serving multiple purposes including fire protection, stock, fish and wildlife habitat, irrigation, and recreation. The dam spans 340 feet in length and covers a surface area of 2.4 acres, with a drainage area of 1.47 acres.
Despite its low hazard potential, Poison Creek No. 1 is in poor condition according to its last assessment in August 2021. The dam has an uncontrolled spillway width of 40 feet and a maximum discharge rate of 1195 cubic feet per second. The dam is inspected every 5 years, with the last inspection taking place in August 2021. While the risk assessment is moderate, there are no specific risk management measures or emergency action plans currently in place for this structure.
Water resource and climate enthusiasts interested in the management and sustainability of dams will find Poison Creek No. 1 an intriguing case study. With its diverse range of purposes and its location in the beautiful Johnson County, Wyoming, this dam serves as a vital resource for the surrounding community. However, the poor condition of the dam and the lack of risk management measures highlight the importance of regular maintenance and preparedness in ensuring the safety and longevity of such crucial water infrastructure.
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 Poison Creek No. 1 -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Nf Powder River Below Pass Creek | 50 cfs | → |
| North Fork Powder River Near Hazelton | 3 cfs | → |
| Clear Creek Near Buffalo | 33 cfs | → |
| Rock Creek Near Buffalo | 70 cfs | → |
| South Piney Creek At Willow Park | 0 cfs | → |
| Piney Creek At Kearny | 113 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Poison Creek No. 1.
Campgrounds
- Canyon Campground
- Muddy Guard Cabin
- Crazy Woman Campground
- Lost Cabin Campground
- Lost Cabin
- Lower Doyle Creek Campground
Track Poison Creek No. 1 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 Poison Creek No. 1
Where does the data for Poison Creek No. 1 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 Poison Creek No. 1.