Phelps is an earth dam located in Platte County, Wyoming, built in 1911. It carries a Low hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 28 ft28 ft tall and 730 ft long, taller than 62% of U.S. dams with a recorded height. Height is drawn to scale against a two-story house, about 25 ft; the profile is a generic embankment section and the water level is illustrative.
About Phelps
The primary purpose of Phelps is irrigation. The dam stores and diverts water for agricultural irrigation, supporting farming operations in the surrounding area. The dam is owned by The Gittaway Ranch (private). It impounds the Mcmurray Creek near Torrington.
The dam stands 28 feet tall and stretches 730 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 12 acres, and has a maximum storage capacity of 138 acre-feet. Completed in 1911, the structure is over a century old.
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 04/17/2023.
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Location
| State | Wyoming |
| County | Platte |
| Nearest City | Torrington |
| River/Stream | Mcmurray Creek |
| Coordinates | 41.88833, -105.22500 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 28 ft |
| Dam Height | 28 ft |
| Dam Length | 730 ft |
| Year Completed | 1911 (115 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 138 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 138 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 96 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 12 acres |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Irrigation |
| Owner | The Gittaway Ranch |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | Low |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 04/17/2023 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Not Required |
Identifiers
| NID ID | WY00045 |
| Federal ID | WY00045 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |