Coal Gulch dam
Coal Gulch
Coal Gulch is a private dam located in Carbon, Wyoming, serving primarily for irrigation purposes. It was completed in 2013 and stands at a height of 30 feet, with a maximum storage capacity of 45 acre-feet. The dam has a low hazard potential and is rated in fair condition as of the last assessment in 2019.
Situated in Dixon, Wyoming, the Earth-type dam spans 1,290 feet in length and has a hydraulic height of 20 feet. The dam's spillway is uncontrolled, with a width of 80 feet. The surrounding area covers 5.87 acres, drawing water from a drainage area of 4,878 acres. Despite being privately owned, Coal Gulch is subject to state regulation, inspection, and enforcement, ensuring its compliance with safety standards.
Managed by designer Chuck Schmitt, Coal Gulch represents a vital water resource for the local community, providing irrigation for agriculture, fire protection, and stock purposes. With its moderate risk assessment, the dam serves as a crucial infrastructure for water management in the region, contributing to sustainable water utilization and climate resilience efforts.
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 Coal Gulch -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Little Snake River Near Dixon | 415 cfs | → |
| Slater Fork Near Slater | 62 cfs | → |
| Muddy Creek Below Young Draw | 3 cfs | → |
| Little Snake River Near Slater | 317 cfs | → |
| Jack Creek Above Coyote Draw | 133 cfs | → |
| Encampment River Ab Hog Park Cr | 428 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Coal Gulch.
Campgrounds
- Sandstone Cabin
- Jack Creek
- Jack Creek Guard Station
- Jack Creek Crew Quarters
- Battle Creek - Dispersed
- Lost Creek
Fishing spots
More reservoirs
Track Coal Gulch 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 Coal Gulch
Where does the data for Coal Gulch 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 Coal Gulch.