Pathfinder Dam and Reservoir were constructed as part of the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation (USBR) North Platte Project. One of the first dams built under the 1902 Federal Reclamation Act, Pathfinder Dam is listed as a Wyoming Historic Civil Engineering Landmark and in the National Register of Historic Places. Pathfinder Dam construction began in 1905 and was completed in 1909. The dam contains more than 60,000 cubic yards of masonry and more than 55,000 barrels of cement, all of which were transported overland from Casper, nearly 50 miles away. Construction of the Fremont Canyon Powerplant, which is located downstream of Pathfinder Dam, was completed in 1960. More information regarding Pathfinder Dam and Reservoir is available in the following table.
Summary - Storage Capacities of Pathfinder Reservoir
Permit number |
Reservoir name |
Total capacity |
Outlet capacity |
Spillway capacity |
Hydro-electric |
Power capacity |
Powerplant release |
SEO tab book (acre-feet) |
(cubic feet per second) |
(cubic feet per second) |
generating plant |
(megawatts) |
SEO tab book (cubic feet per second) |
P609R |
Pathfinder Reservoir |
1,070,000 |
2,928 (left abutment) + 50-450 (30" flow gate) |
33,940 |
Fremont Canyon Powerplant |
48 |
2,320 |