Three Forks Dam
Three Forks Dam is a gravity dam located in Natrona County, Wyoming, built in 1954. It carries a Low hazard potential classification and has a unsatisfactory condition assessment.
About Three Forks Dam
The primary purpose of Three Forks 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 Mike Wash.
The dam stands 36 feet tall and stretches 270 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 3 acres, and has a maximum storage capacity of 29 acre-feet. Completed in 1954, 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 07/19/2017.
At 36 feet, this dam is taller than 83% of dams nationwide.
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Location
| State | Wyoming |
| County | Natrona |
| River/Stream | Mike Wash |
| Coordinates | 43.28440, -107.26153 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Gravity |
| NID Height | 36 ft |
| Dam Length | 270 ft |
| Year Completed | 1954 (72 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 29 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 29 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 15 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 3 acres |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Debris Control |
| Owner | DOI BLM |
| Owner Type | Federal |
| Hazard Classification | Low |
| Condition Assessment | Unsatisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 07/19/2017 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Not Required |
Identifiers
| NID ID | WY02497 |
| Federal ID | WY02497 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |