Bench Canal is an earth dam located in Big Horn County, Wyoming, built in 1969. It carries a Low hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 35 ft35 ft tall and 1,000 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 Bench Canal
The primary purpose of Bench Canal is irrigation. The dam stores and diverts water for agricultural irrigation, supporting farming operations in the surrounding area. The dam is owned by Bench Canal Company (private). It impounds the Greybull River near Greybull.
The dam stands 35 feet tall and stretches 1,000 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 34 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 497 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 1 square miles. Completed in 1969, 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 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 06/14/2022.
At 35 feet, this dam is taller than 80% of dams nationwide.
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Location
| State | Wyoming |
| County | Big Horn |
| Nearest City | Greybull |
| River/Stream | Greybull River |
| Coordinates | 44.48340, -108.31960 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 35 ft |
| Dam Height | 35 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,000 ft |
| Year Completed | 1969 (57 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 497 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 497 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 299 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 34 acres |
| Drainage Area | 1 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 184 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Irrigation |
| Owner | Bench Canal Company |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | Low |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 06/14/2022 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Not Required |
Identifiers
| NID ID | WY01086 |
| Federal ID | WY01086 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |