Shell Creek is an earth dam located in Natrona County, Wyoming, built in 1944. It carries a Low hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 23 ft23 ft tall and 418 ft long. 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 Shell Creek
The primary purpose of Shell Creek is irrigation. The dam stores and diverts water for agricultural irrigation, supporting farming operations in the surrounding area. The dam is owned by Rattlesnake Grazing Assn Inc (private). It impounds the Shell Creek near Alcova.
The dam stands 23 feet tall and stretches 418 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 19 acres, and has a maximum storage capacity of 246 acre-feet. Completed in 1944, the structure is well-established, with more than 75 years of service.
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 04/07/2021.
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Location
| State | Wyoming |
| County | Natrona |
| Nearest City | Alcova |
| River/Stream | Shell Creek |
| Coordinates | 42.63540, -106.86530 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 23 ft |
| Dam Height | 23 ft |
| Dam Length | 418 ft |
| Year Completed | 1944 (82 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 246 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 246 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 130 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 19 acres |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Irrigation |
| Owner | Rattlesnake Grazing Assn Inc |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | Low |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 04/07/2021 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Not Required |
Identifiers
| NID ID | WY00406 |
| Federal ID | WY00406 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |