Crystal Lake
Crystal Lake is a concrete dam located in Laramie County, Wyoming, built in 1922. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
About Crystal Lake
The primary purpose of Crystal Lake is water supply. The dam stores water for municipal, industrial, or agricultural use, helping ensure a reliable supply for the surrounding area. The dam is owned by City Of Cheyenne-bopu (local government). It impounds the Middle Crow Creek near Cheyenne.
The dam stands 108 feet tall and stretches 170 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 136 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 4,500 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 39 square miles. Completed in 1922, the structure is over a century old.
This dam carries a high hazard potential classification, which means that a failure or uncontrolled release of water would likely cause loss of human life. This classification reflects the consequences of failure, not the likelihood — it indicates that people live or work in the area downstream. Its condition is rated fair — the dam has minor deficiencies that are being addressed or do not pose an immediate safety threat. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 04/26/2022.
At 108 feet, this dam is taller than 98% of all dams in the United States.
Living Downstream
If you live or work downstream of this dam, consider taking these steps: learn your local evacuation routes, check whether your county emergency management office has a dam failure inundation map, and sign up for local emergency alerts. The Wyoming dam safety program can provide more specific information about emergency planning for this structure.
Search for dams near your address to see all dams in your area with hazard classifications and safety data.
Location
| State | Wyoming |
| County | Laramie |
| Nearest City | Cheyenne |
| River/Stream | Middle Crow Creek |
| Coordinates | 41.15811, -105.19789 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Concrete |
| NID Height | 108 ft |
| Dam Height | 106 ft |
| Dam Length | 170 ft |
| Year Completed | 1922 (104 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 4,500 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 4,500 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 4,075 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 136 acres |
| Drainage Area | 39 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 36,812 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Controlled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Water Supply |
| Owner | CITY OF CHEYENNE-BOPU |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 04/26/2022 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | WY00002 |
| Federal ID | WY00002 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |