Chas Smith is an earth dam located in Converse County, Wyoming, built in 1905. It carries a Low hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 28 ft28 ft tall and 172 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 Chas Smith
The primary purpose of Chas Smith is irrigation. The dam stores and diverts water for agricultural irrigation, supporting farming operations in the surrounding area. The dam is owned by Richard C. Grant Jr. Et Ux (private). It impounds the Windy Ridge Creek near Orpha.
The dam stands 28 feet tall and stretches 172 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 7 acres, and has a maximum storage capacity of 101 acre-feet. Completed in 1905, 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 09/24/2021.
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Location
| State | Wyoming |
| County | Converse |
| Nearest City | Orpha |
| River/Stream | Windy Ridge Creek |
| Coordinates | 42.67960, -105.79300 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 28 ft |
| Dam Height | 28 ft |
| Dam Length | 172 ft |
| Year Completed | 1905 (121 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 101 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 101 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 70 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 7 acres |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Irrigation |
| Owner | Richard C. Grant Jr. Et Ux |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | Low |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 09/24/2021 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Not Required |
Identifiers
| NID ID | WY00342 |
| Federal ID | WY00342 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |