Boysen Dam
Boysen Dam is an earth dam located in Fremont County, Wyoming, built in 1952. It carries a High hazard potential classification.
About Boysen Dam
The primary purpose of Boysen Dam is flood risk reduction. The dam is designed to control downstream flooding by temporarily storing excess water during storms and releasing it at a controlled rate. The dam is owned by Bureau Of Reclamation (federal). It impounds the Wind River near Boysen.
The dam stands 220 feet tall and stretches 1,143 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 19,560 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 1,473,118 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 7,704 square miles. Completed in 1952, 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. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 08/25/2021.
At 220 feet, this dam is taller than 99% of all dams in the United States.
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 | Boysen |
| River/Stream | Wind River |
| Coordinates | 43.41670, -108.17770 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 220 ft |
| Dam Height | 220 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,143 ft |
| Year Completed | 1952 (74 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 1,473,118 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 1,473,118 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 701,510 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 19,560 acres |
| Drainage Area | 7,704 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 35,000 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Controlled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | BUREAU OF RECLAMATION |
| Owner Type | Federal |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Not Available |
| Last Inspection | 08/25/2021 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | WY01299 |
| Federal ID | WY01299 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |