Pilot Butte Embankment 3
Pilot Butte Embankment 3 is an earth dam located in Fremont County, Wyoming, built in 1926. It carries a High hazard potential classification.
About Pilot Butte Embankment 3
The primary purpose of Pilot Butte Embankment 3 is irrigation. The dam stores and diverts water for agricultural irrigation, supporting farming operations in the surrounding area. The dam is owned by Bureau Of Reclamation (federal). It impounds the Wyoming Canal near Riverton.
The dam stands 12 feet tall and stretches 3,400 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 900 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 36,900 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 9 square miles. Completed in 1926, the structure is well-established, with more than 75 years of service.
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 07/10/2020.
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 | Riverton |
| River/Stream | Wyoming Canal |
| Coordinates | 43.20320, -108.75790 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 12 ft |
| Dam Height | 12 ft |
| Dam Length | 3,400 ft |
| Year Completed | 1926 (100 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 36,900 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 36,900 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 33,700 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 900 acres |
| Drainage Area | 9 sq mi |
| Spillway Type | None |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Irrigation |
| Owner | BUREAU OF RECLAMATION |
| Owner Type | Federal |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Not Available |
| Last Inspection | 07/10/2020 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | WY01381 |
| Federal ID | WY01381S002 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |