Bates Creek
Bates Creek is an earth dam located in Natrona County, Wyoming, built in 1910. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
About Bates Creek
The primary purpose of Bates Creek is irrigation. The dam stores and diverts water for agricultural irrigation, supporting farming operations in the surrounding area. The dam is owned by Bates Creek Res. Co. - Andy Anderson (private). It impounds the Dry Fork Bates Creek near Casper.
The dam stands 23 feet tall and stretches 4,393 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 786 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 8,885 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 33 square miles. Completed in 1910, the structure is over a century old.
This dam has a significant hazard potential classification, meaning that a failure could cause significant economic damage — flooding roads, bridges, or property downstream — but is not expected to result in loss of life. Its condition is rated poor, meaning the dam has recognized safety deficiencies that require remediation to address risks. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 06/03/2024.
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Location
| State | Wyoming |
| County | Natrona |
| Nearest City | Casper |
| River/Stream | Dry Fork Bates Creek |
| Coordinates | 42.48944, -106.21806 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 23 ft |
| Dam Height | 23 ft |
| Dam Length | 4,393 ft |
| Year Completed | 1910 (116 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 8,885 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 8,885 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 3,112 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 786 acres |
| Drainage Area | 33 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 4,000 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Irrigation |
| Owner | BATES CREEK RES. CO. - ANDY ANDERSON |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 06/03/2024 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | WY00238 |
| Federal ID | WY00238 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |