Cardwell is an earth dam located in Carbon County, Wyoming, built in 1907. It carries a Low hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 35 ft35 ft tall and 370 ft long, taller than 80% 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 Cardwell
The primary purpose of Cardwell is irrigation. The dam stores and diverts water for agricultural irrigation, supporting farming operations in the surrounding area. The dam is owned by Joel C. and Laura M. Wendler (private). It impounds the Little Canyon Creek near Alcova.
The dam stands 35 feet tall and stretches 370 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 16 acres, and has a maximum storage capacity of 161 acre-feet. Completed in 1907, 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 05/28/2020.
At 35 feet, this dam is taller than 80% of dams nationwide.
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Location
| State | Wyoming |
| County | Carbon |
| Nearest City | Alcova |
| River/Stream | Little Canyon Creek |
| Coordinates | 42.39390, -106.82580 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 35 ft |
| Dam Height | 34 ft |
| Dam Length | 370 ft |
| Year Completed | 1907 (119 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 161 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 161 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 108 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 16 acres |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Irrigation |
| Owner | Joel C. and Laura M. Wendler |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | Low |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 05/28/2020 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Not Required |
Identifiers
| NID ID | WY00410 |
| Federal ID | WY00410 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |