Wales is an earth dam located in Hot Springs County, Wyoming, built in 1912. It carries a Low hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 13 ft13 ft tall and 760 ft long. 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 Wales
The primary purpose of Wales is irrigation. The dam stores and diverts water for agricultural irrigation, supporting farming operations in the surrounding area. The dam is owned by Prospect Land and Cattle (private). It impounds the Cottonwood Creek near Worland.
The dam stands 13 feet tall and stretches 760 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 30 acres, and has a maximum storage capacity of 278 acre-feet. Completed in 1912, the structure is over a century 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 04/14/2025.
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Location
| State | Wyoming |
| County | Hot Springs |
| Nearest City | Worland |
| River/Stream | Cottonwood Creek |
| Coordinates | 43.81100, -108.53520 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 13 ft |
| Dam Height | 13 ft |
| Dam Length | 760 ft |
| Year Completed | 1912 (114 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 278 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 278 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 200 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 30 acres |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Irrigation |
| Owner | Prospect Land and Cattle |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | Low |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 04/14/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Not Required |
Identifiers
| NID ID | WY01141 |
| Federal ID | WY01141 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |