Fields is an earth dam located in Niobrara County, Wyoming, built in 1953. It carries a Low hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 25 ft25 ft tall and 400 ft long, taller than 50% 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 Fields
The primary purpose of Fields is irrigation. The dam stores and diverts water for agricultural irrigation, supporting farming operations in the surrounding area. The dam is owned by Johnson Ranches (private). It impounds the Cottonwood Draw near Hat Creek.
The dam stands 25 feet tall and stretches 400 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 14 acres, and has a maximum storage capacity of 161 acre-feet. Completed in 1953, the structure is well into its service life at over 50 years 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 05/01/2025.
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Location
| State | Wyoming |
| County | Niobrara |
| Nearest City | Hat Creek |
| River/Stream | Cottonwood Draw |
| Coordinates | 42.93500, -104.36778 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 25 ft |
| Dam Height | 25 ft |
| Dam Length | 400 ft |
| Year Completed | 1953 (73 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 161 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 161 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 67 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 14 acres |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Irrigation |
| Owner | Johnson Ranches |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | Low |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 05/01/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Not Required |
Identifiers
| NID ID | WY00467 |
| Federal ID | WY00467 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |