Nielson
Nielson is an earth dam located in Fremont County, Wyoming, built in 1934. It carries a Low hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
About Nielson
The primary purpose of Nielson is fire protection, stock, or small fish pond. The dam maintains a small impoundment used for fire suppression, livestock watering, or as a fish pond. The dam is owned by Wind River Indian Res. (w. Mesghinna) (private). It impounds the W Fork Sheep Creek near East Thermopolis.
The dam stands 15 feet tall and stretches 1,250 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 35 acres, and has a maximum storage capacity of 385 acre-feet. Completed in 1934, the structure is well-established, with more than 75 years of service.
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 06/28/2024.
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Location
| State | Wyoming |
| County | Fremont |
| Nearest City | East Thermopolis |
| River/Stream | W Fork Sheep Creek |
| Coordinates | 43.46333, -108.65556 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 15 ft |
| Dam Height | 15 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,250 ft |
| Year Completed | 1934 (92 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 385 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 385 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 156 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 35 acres |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Fire Protection, Stock, Or Small Fish Pond |
| Owner | WIND RIVER INDIAN RES. (W. MESGHINNA) |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | Low |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 06/28/2024 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Not Required |
Identifiers
| NID ID | WY01047 |
| Federal ID | WY01047 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |