List of dams and reservoirs in Wyoming facts for kids
Dams and reservoirs are super important structures in Wyoming! A dam is like a giant wall built across a river. It holds back water, creating a large artificial lake called a reservoir. These reservoirs store water for many uses, like drinking, farming, and making electricity. They also help control floods.
What is a Major Dam?
The United States has a special list of all its dams. To be called a "major dam," a dam must be at least 50 feet (about 15 meters) tall and hold a lot of water – enough to fill 5,000 football fields one foot deep! Or, it can be any height if it holds an even bigger amount of water, like 25,000 football fields one foot deep.
Dams and Reservoirs in Wyoming
Wyoming has many important dams and reservoirs. They help manage water for people, farms, and wildlife across the state. Many of these projects were built by the United States Bureau of Reclamation (USBR). This government agency builds and manages water projects, mostly in the western United States.
Here is a list of some of the major dams and their reservoirs in Wyoming:
- Alcova Dam, which creates Alcova Reservoir, managed by the USBR.
- Anchor Dam, creating Anchor Reservoir, managed by the USBR.
- Big Sandy Dam, forming Big Sandy Reservoir, managed by the USBR.
- Boysen Dam, which creates Boysen Reservoir.
- Buffalo Bill Dam (once called Shoshone Dam), creating Buffalo Bill Reservoir, managed by the USBR.
- Bull Lake Dam, forming Bull Lake Reservoir, managed by the USBR.
- Flaming Gorge Dam, which creates Flaming Gorge Reservoir, managed by the USBR.
- Fontenelle Dam, forming Fontenelle Reservoir, managed by the USBR.
- Glendo Dam, creating Glendo Reservoir, managed by the USBR.
- Granite Springs Dam, forming Granite Springs Reservoir, managed by the City of Cheyenne.
- Grassy Lake Dam, creating Grassy Lake Reservoir, managed by the USBR.
- Guernsey Dam, forming Guernsey Reservoir, managed by the USBR.
- Jackson Lake Dam, which creates Jackson Lake, managed by the USBR.
- Keyhole Dam, forming Keyhole Reservoir, managed by the USBR.
- Kortes Dam, creating Kortes Reservoir, managed by the USBR.
- Meeks Cabin Dam, forming Meeks Cabin Reservoir, managed by the USBR.
- Worthen Meadow Reservoir, managed by the City of Lander.
- Pathfinder Dam, which creates Pathfinder Reservoir, managed by the USBR.
- Pilot Butte Dam, forming Pilot Butte Reservoir, managed by the USBR.
- Seminoe Dam, creating Seminoe Reservoir, managed by the USBR.
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See also
- List of largest reservoirs of Wyoming
- List of dam removals in Wyoming
- List of lakes in Wyoming
- List of rivers in Wyoming
