Strange formations near Arminto, WY (house, design, place)

[CptnRn]

I came across these strange formations in two dry creeks North of Arminto, WY. They are manmade built more or less perpendicular to the water flow, appear to be formed to try and trap water and perhaps some kind of mineral when it rains. Does anyone know what these are?

Zoom in close in satellite view.

Arminto, Wyoming - Google Maps

There is another one just SE of there.

[ElkHunter]

It's hard to tell the terrain but they look like spreader dams. Keep water from running off. Water collects to stand for a bit, or at least slow down enough to soak in.

[CptnRn]

I wondered about plants, but not much growing around there. Or possibly capturing water for wildlife. But something makes me think its intended to capture minerals of some sort, like a large scale sluice box, just a guess on my part.

Looking at these closer I realize they are no on a creek so much as they are between two creeks. The ground, especially around the one to the SE appears to have been much damper in this satellite photo the the surrounding area.

[ElkHunter]

Well, spreader dams not only help vegitation, but stop errosion. I'm not sure. Like I said, unless a person could see the terrain, the ups and downs, it's hard to figure out.

[jody_wy]

having a hard time with my dail up to look. But behind my house up on the Caribou NF you can come down some shaly ridges and right at the bottom it looks like some one mined the rock out and made a pile. Talked with a few people about these , I know of 3 or 4 with in a few miles. Was told they are very old, that hunter built them as blind to throw spear at game annimal, either wandering by or driven. Kind of like the rock ples at buffalo jumps but only one big one insead of lots of smaller ones.

[CptnRn]

Originally Posted by jody_wy

having a hard time with my dail up to look. But behind my house up on the Caribou NF you can come down some shaly ridges and right at the bottom it looks like some one mined the rock out and made a pile. Talked with a few people about these , I know of 3 or 4 with in a few miles. Was told they are very old, that hunter built them as blind to throw spear at game annimal, either wandering by or driven. Kind of like the rock ples at buffalo jumps but only one big one insead of lots of smaller ones.

Here is a low resolution screenshot of one of the formations. Looking at it closer I see that the creek is dammed at the top so water would be forced zig-zag down the channels as if flowed downhill. Doesn't look like much is growing there in the channels except sage brush.

[scotchdrinker]

I work designing water systems for the NRCS in Montana, but I was raised in North central Wyoming. I can tell you the structures you are questioning is most likely a water spreadin system. The series of diversion dams are set in place following the contours from a topo map or survy of the area, allowing the water to flow over the terrain slowley, reducing erosion and also allowing deeper percolation of the water into the soil horizon increasing native(or introduced grasses and/or forbes) plant production for grazing and in some cases haying.

[CptnRn]

That makes sense, if you could increase the plant production it would increase the grazing potential for your cattle.

[jody_wy]

yup not even close to what i posted about. maybe I can google the rock blinds when i get a good conection.