Wyoming State Water Plan, Wyoming Water Development Office
Rafting on Snake River Lake Marie, Snowy Mountains Wyoming Wind River Range picture

Bear River Basin Water Plan
Technical Memoranda

SUBJECT: Appendix D
Key Structures and Diversions
B.Q. DAM

PREPARED BY: Bear River Basin Planning Team

DATE: August 7, 2000



Diversion Description: The B.Q. Dam serves as the diversion structure for the B.Q. Slough (West) Ditch, the B.Q. East Ditch, the B.Q. McFarland Ditch, and the Weston Ranch Pumps. The dam structure consists of steel piling with boards to control the height. There are no control gates on any of the diversions.
Downstream side of B.Q. Dam structure

Upstream side of B.Q. dam (looking east) -
Weston Ranch Pump facility can be seen at the back near the east bank
Diversion Location: The B.Q. Dam is located on the Bear River upstream of the Pixley Dam. The B.Q. diversions are regulated as part of the Upper Division of the Bear River Compact. See location map hereafter.

Latitude   N 41° 51' 46.2"
Longitude   W 111° 00' 33.0"
Conveyance Description: Open channel canal and pressure pipe (Weston Pumps).1

Direct Flow Water Rights:2

Priority Date Permit
Number
Permitted Use Permitted
Acres
Flow
(CFS)
Cumulative
(CFS)
Comments
B.Q. Dam Slough (West)
04-01-1883 Terr Irrigation 2005 28.64 28.64
09-04-1992 7151E Irrigation 34.13 .49 29.13
09-04-1992 7152E Irrigation 156.22 2.23 31.36
B.Q. Dam East
05-00-1878 Terr Irrigation 2480 35.42 35.42
McFarland
06-12-1901 3264 Irrigation 80 1.14 1.14
06-12-1901 3254 Irrigation 40 0.57 1.71
06-12-1901 3264 Irrigation 240 3.42 5.13
Weston Ranch Pumps
06-12-1998 32304 Irrigation 410.5 5.86 5.86 Pivots 1 & 2

Associated Storage Rights:

Reservoir Shareholder Volume/Shares
(Acre-ft)
Comments
Woodruff Narrows Lloyd & LaRee Cornia 219 BQ Dam Slough (West)
Woodruff Narrows Fred Allen Feller 334 BQ Dam Slough (West)
Woodruff Narrows A. Blain Hoffman 164 BQ Dam Slough (West)
Woodruff Narrows Lanny K. Putnam 219 BQ Dam Slough (West)
Woodruff Narrows Roland & Linda Willis 125 BQ Dam Slough (West)
Woodruff Narrows Ben & Dale Weston 685 Weston Pumps
Woodruff Narrows Kay Thornock 393
Woodruff Narrows Russell Thornock 765
Woodruff Narrows Roland & Linda Willis 737 BQ Dam Slough (West)


click to enlarge

Irrigation Practices: Land is primarily flood irrigated. The Weston pump facility feeds center- pivot sprinklers.3

Crop Types / Consumptive Use: Water is primarily used to irrigate meadow grasses. The Weston pivots are used to irrigate alfalfa, oats, and barley (crops are rotated).3

Other Operational Information: The B.Q. diversions are typically not regulated due to their relatively close upstream proximity to the Pixley dam. (The Bear River Compact does not require that was pass the Pixley Dam for the Upper Division to the Lower Division.) The BQ irrigators typically pull the dam about July 10th to dry up meadows.

References:

  1. USDA -Soil Conservation Service Economic Research Service-Forest Service in Cooperation with the States of Idaho, Utah, Wyoming, Irrigation Conveyance Systems, Working Paper for the Bear River Basin Type IV Study, Idaho-Utah-Wyoming, April 1976

  2. Water rights summary obtained from State Engineer Interstate Reglist - revised April 14, 1999

  3. Irrigation practices based on field investigation and interview with Mr. Kevin Wilde, Hydrographer / Commissioner - November 30, 1999.

  4. State of Utah Natural Resources, Water Budget Studies - Utah, Bear River Study Area, September 1994.


To the Bear River Basin Water Plan