Big Sandy Dike
Big Sandy Dike is an earth dam located in Sweetwater County, Wyoming, built in 1952. It carries a High hazard potential classification.
About Big Sandy Dike
The primary purpose of Big Sandy Dike is flood risk reduction. The dam is designed to control downstream flooding by temporarily storing excess water during storms and releasing it at a controlled rate. The dam is owned by Bureau Of Reclamation (federal). It impounds the Big Sandy Creek near Farson.
The dam stands 22 feet tall and stretches 8,300 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 3,210 acres, and has a maximum storage capacity of 54,400 acre-feet. Completed in 1952, 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. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 09/15/2020.
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 | Sweetwater |
| Nearest City | Farson |
| River/Stream | Big Sandy Creek |
| Coordinates | 42.25910, -109.42450 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 22 ft |
| Dam Height | 20 ft |
| Dam Length | 8,300 ft |
| Year Completed | 1952 (74 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 54,400 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 54,400 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 39,700 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 3,210 acres |
| Max Discharge | 7,350 cfs |
| Spillway Type | None |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | BUREAU OF RECLAMATION |
| Owner Type | Federal |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Not Available |
| Last Inspection | 09/15/2020 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | WY01386 |
| Federal ID | WY01387S001 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |