Shoshone Lake
Shoshone Lake is an earth dam located in Fremont County, Wyoming, built in 1959. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
About Shoshone Lake
The primary purpose of Shoshone Lake is irrigation. The dam stores and diverts water for agricultural irrigation, supporting farming operations in the surrounding area. The dam is owned by Shoshone Lake Reservoir Company (private). It impounds the Shoshone Creek near Milford.
The dam stands 46 feet tall and stretches 410 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 503 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 12,900 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 10 square miles. Completed in 1959, 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 07/09/2025.
At 46 feet, this dam is taller than 91% 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 | Fremont |
| Nearest City | Milford |
| River/Stream | Shoshone Creek |
| Coordinates | 42.79472, -109.01750 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 46 ft |
| Dam Height | 37 ft |
| Dam Length | 410 ft |
| Year Completed | 1959 (67 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 12,900 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 12,900 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 10,109 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 503 acres |
| Drainage Area | 10 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 741 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Irrigation |
| Owner | SHOSHONE LAKE RESERVOIR COMPANY |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 07/09/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | WY01055 |
| Federal ID | WY01055 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |