Padlock No. 1 A Five Mile
Padlock No. 1 A Five Mile is an earth dam located in Sheridan County, Wyoming, built in 1961. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
About Padlock No. 1 A Five Mile
The primary purpose of Padlock No. 1 A Five Mile is irrigation. The dam stores and diverts water for agricultural irrigation, supporting farming operations in the surrounding area. The dam is owned by Padlock Ranch Company, Inc (private). It impounds the Five Mile Creek near Ranchester.
The dam stands 40 feet tall and stretches 1,228 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 59 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 960 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 13 square miles. Completed in 1961, the structure is well into its service life at over 50 years old.
This dam carries a high hazard potential classification, which means that a failure or uncontrolled release of water would likely cause loss of human life. This classification reflects the consequences of failure, not the likelihood — it indicates that people live or work in the area downstream. Its condition is rated fair — the dam has minor deficiencies that are being addressed or do not pose an immediate safety threat. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 05/21/2025.
At 40 feet, this dam is taller than 87% of dams nationwide.
Living Downstream
If you live or work downstream of this dam, consider taking these steps: learn your local evacuation routes, check whether your county emergency management office has a dam failure inundation map, and sign up for local emergency alerts. The Wyoming dam safety program can provide more specific information about emergency planning for this structure.
Search for dams near your address to see all dams in your area with hazard classifications and safety data.
Location
| State | Wyoming |
| County | Sheridan |
| Nearest City | Ranchester |
| River/Stream | Five Mile Creek |
| Coordinates | 44.95060, -107.25100 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 40 ft |
| Dam Height | 36 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,228 ft |
| Year Completed | 1961 (65 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 960 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 960 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 536 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 59 acres |
| Drainage Area | 13 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 8,561 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Irrigation |
| Owner | PADLOCK RANCH COMPANY, INC |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 05/21/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | WY00659 |
| Federal ID | WY00659 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |