Leavitt
Leavitt is an earth dam located in Big Horn County, Wyoming, built in 1956. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
About Leavitt
The primary purpose of Leavitt is irrigation. The dam stores and diverts water for agricultural irrigation, supporting farming operations in the surrounding area. The dam is owned by Double Doc Ranch, Inc. (private). It impounds the Davis Draw, Trib. Beaver Creek near Shell.
The dam stands 45 feet tall and stretches 800 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 49 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 923 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 40 square miles. Completed in 1956, the structure is well into its service life at over 50 years 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 poor, meaning the dam has recognized safety deficiencies that require remediation to address risks. Notably, no emergency action plan is currently on file for this high-hazard dam. The most recent inspection on record was 06/08/2022.
At 45 feet, this dam is taller than 91% of dams nationwide.
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 | Big Horn |
| Nearest City | Shell |
| River/Stream | Davis Draw, Trib. Beaver Creek |
| Coordinates | 44.64010, -107.86840 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 45 ft |
| Dam Height | 45 ft |
| Dam Length | 800 ft |
| Year Completed | 1956 (70 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 923 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 923 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 643 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 49 acres |
| Drainage Area | 40 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 3,300 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Irrigation |
| Owner | DOUBLE DOC RANCH, INC. |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 06/08/2022 |
| Emergency Action Plan | No |
Identifiers
| NID ID | WY01088 |
| Federal ID | WY01088 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |