Fossil Dam
Fossil Dam is a gravity dam located in Natrona County, Wyoming, built in 1966. It carries a Low hazard potential classification and has a unsatisfactory condition assessment.
About Fossil Dam
The primary purpose of Fossil Dam is debris control. The dam is designed to catch sediment, rocks, and debris carried by flowing water — particularly important in areas prone to mudslides or heavy erosion. The dam is owned by Doi Blm (federal). It impounds the Fossil Draw.
The dam stands 35 feet tall and stretches 300 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 6 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 33 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 1 square miles. Completed in 1966, 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 unsatisfactory, indicating serious safety deficiencies exist that require immediate attention or remedial action. The most recent inspection on record was 07/20/2017.
At 35 feet, this dam is taller than 82% of dams nationwide.
Search for dams near your address to see all dams in your area with hazard classifications and safety data.
Location
| State | Wyoming |
| County | Natrona |
| River/Stream | Fossil Draw |
| Coordinates | 43.23458, -107.39212 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Gravity |
| NID Height | 35 ft |
| Dam Length | 300 ft |
| Year Completed | 1966 (60 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 33 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 33 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 19 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 6 acres |
| Drainage Area | 1 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 230 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Debris Control |
| Owner | DOI BLM |
| Owner Type | Federal |
| Hazard Classification | Low |
| Condition Assessment | Unsatisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 07/20/2017 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Not Required |
Identifiers
| NID ID | WY01452 |
| Federal ID | WY01452 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |