Bell
Bell is an earth dam located in Albany County, Wyoming, built in 1957. It carries a Low hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
About Bell
The primary purpose of Bell is irrigation. The dam stores and diverts water for agricultural irrigation, supporting farming operations in the surrounding area. The dam is owned by Lazy Brown Ranch (private). It impounds the Middle Chugwater Creek near Chugwater.
The dam stands 38 feet tall and stretches 620 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 41 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 333 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 54 square miles. Completed in 1957, the structure is well into its service life at over 50 years old.
This dam has a low hazard potential classification, meaning that failure would cause minimal damage, limited primarily to the dam owner's property, with no expected loss of life. Its condition is rated poor, meaning the dam has recognized safety deficiencies that require remediation to address risks. The most recent inspection on record was 08/17/2020.
At 38 feet, this dam is taller than 85% of dams nationwide.
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Location
| State | Wyoming |
| County | Albany |
| Nearest City | Chugwater |
| River/Stream | Middle Chugwater Creek |
| Coordinates | 41.57230, -105.29300 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 38 ft |
| Dam Height | 38 ft |
| Dam Length | 620 ft |
| Year Completed | 1957 (69 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 479 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 333 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 479 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 41 acres |
| Drainage Area | 54 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 4,460 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Irrigation |
| Owner | LAZY BROWN RANCH |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | Low |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 08/17/2020 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Not Required |
Identifiers
| NID ID | WY00108 |
| Federal ID | WY00108 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |