French is an earth dam located in Crook County, Wyoming, built in 1953. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 37 ft37 ft tall and 264 ft long, taller than 83% 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 French
The primary purpose of French is irrigation. The dam stores and diverts water for agricultural irrigation, supporting farming operations in the surrounding area. The dam is owned by Rauth Ranches, Inc. (private). It impounds the Morris Draw near Alva.
The dam stands 37 feet tall and stretches 264 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 5 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 68 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 1 square miles. Completed in 1953, the structure is well into its service life at over 50 years old.
This dam has a significant hazard potential classification, meaning that a failure could cause significant economic damage — flooding roads, bridges, or property downstream — but is not expected to result in loss of life. Its condition is rated fair — the dam has minor deficiencies that are being addressed or do not pose an immediate safety threat. The most recent inspection on record was 04/24/2024.
At 37 feet, this dam is taller than 83% of dams nationwide.
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Location
| State | Wyoming |
| County | Crook |
| Nearest City | Alva |
| River/Stream | Morris Draw |
| Coordinates | 44.69417, -104.42111 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 37 ft |
| Dam Height | 37 ft |
| Dam Length | 264 ft |
| Year Completed | 1953 (73 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 68 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 68 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 37 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 5 acres |
| Drainage Area | 1 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 1,767 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Irrigation |
| Owner | Rauth Ranches, Inc. |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 04/24/2024 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Not Required |
Identifiers
| NID ID | WY01035 |
| Federal ID | WY01035 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |