Upper Van Tassell
Upper Van Tassell is an earth dam located in Laramie County, Wyoming, built in 1932. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
About Upper Van Tassell
The primary purpose of Upper Van Tassell is water supply. The dam stores water for municipal, industrial, or agricultural use, helping ensure a reliable supply for the surrounding area. The dam is owned by City Of Cheyenne-bopu (local government). It impounds the North Crow Creek near Cheyenne.
The dam stands 98 feet tall and stretches 680 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 94 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 3,816 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 18 square miles. Completed in 1932, the structure is well-established, with more than 75 years of service.
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. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 04/28/2022.
At 98 feet, this dam is taller than 98% of all dams in the United States.
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 | Laramie |
| Nearest City | Cheyenne |
| River/Stream | North Crow Creek |
| Coordinates | 41.23480, -105.27780 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 98 ft |
| Dam Height | 95 ft |
| Dam Length | 680 ft |
| Year Completed | 1932 (94 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 3,816 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 3,816 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 2,736 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 94 acres |
| Drainage Area | 18 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 21,400 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Water Supply |
| Owner | CITY OF CHEYENNE-BOPU |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 04/28/2022 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | WY00007 |
| Federal ID | WY00007 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |