East Boulder Tailings Dam dam
East Boulder Tailings Dam
The East Boulder Tailings Dam in Sweet Grass, Montana, is a privately owned structure regulated by the state's Department of Environmental Quality. The dam, with a maximum storage capacity of 460 acre-feet and a normal storage of 153 acre-feet, serves primarily for tailings disposal. Located in a high hazard potential area, the dam has a satisfactory condition assessment as of June 2018.
Constructed with a surface area of 103 acres, the East Boulder Tailings Dam poses a potential risk to the surrounding area in case of failure, prompting the need for regular inspections. The last inspection was conducted in February 2021, with an inspection frequency of every 5 years. Despite its high hazard potential, the dam meets regulatory guidelines and is equipped with emergency action plans to mitigate risks.
Climate and water resource enthusiasts can appreciate the significance of the East Boulder Tailings Dam as a critical structure for managing mine waste in the region. With its location in a picturesque setting in Sweet Grass, Montana, the dam serves as a reminder of the importance of maintaining and regulating such structures to ensure the safety of nearby communities and the environment.
Dam data reference
Condition Assessment
- Satisfactory
- No existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. Acceptable performance is expected under all loading conditions (static, hydrologic, seismic) in accordance with the minimum applicable state or federal regulatory criteria or tolerable risk guidelines.
- Fair
- No existing dam safety deficiencies are recognized for normal operating conditions. Rare or extreme hydrologic and/or seismic events may result in a dam safety deficiency. Risk may be in the range to take further action.
- Poor
- A dam safety deficiency is recognized for normal operating conditions which may realistically occur. Remedial action is necessary. POOR may also be used when uncertainties exist as to critical analysis parameters which identify a potential dam safety deficiency.
- Unsatisfactory
- A dam safety deficiency is recognized that requires immediate or emergency remedial action for problem resolution.
- Not Rated
- The dam has not been inspected, is not under state or federal jurisdiction, or has been inspected but, for whatever reason, has not been rated.
Hazard Potential Classification
- High
- Dams assigned the high hazard potential classification are those where failure or mis-operation will probably cause loss of human life.
- Significant
- Dams assigned the significant hazard potential classification are those dams where failure or mis-operation results in no probable loss of human life but can cause economic loss, environmental damage, disruption of lifeline facilities, or impact other concerns. Significant hazard potential classification dams are often located in predominantly rural or agricultural areas but could be in areas with population and significant infrastructure.
- Low
- Dams assigned the low hazard potential classification are those where failure or mis-operation results in no probable loss of human life and low economic and/or environmental losses. Losses are principally limited to the owner's property.
- Undetermined
- Dams for which a downstream hazard potential has not been designated or is not provided.
Plan around the weather
Same NOAA / yr.no feed Snoflo's iOS app uses. Watch the precipitation column on the meteogram -- rain on the basin upstream typically lifts inflow 24-72 hours later.
Next 5 days, hour by hour
Temperature line with weather symbols on top, snow + rain accumulation as columns, humidity as a dotted line.
5-day forecast table
Every 3 hours, broken out across temperature, snow, rain, humidity, and wind. Each cell is colour-coded relative to the column min/max.
| Time | Condition | Temp (°F) | Snow (in) | Rain (in) | Humidity (%) | Wind (mps) | Wind dir |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loading detailed forecast… | |||||||
15-day temperature & precipitation
Daily temperatures, snow, and rain projected over the next two weeks.
Nearby streamflow gauges
USGS streamgauges around East Boulder Tailings Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Boulder River At Big Timber Mt | 1,100 cfs | → |
| Yellowstone River Near Livingston Mt | 8,020 cfs | → |
| Shields River Nr Livingston Mt | 347 cfs | → |
| West Rosebud Creek Near Roscoe Mt | 79 cfs | → |
| Stillwater River Near Absarokee Mt | 1,320 cfs | → |
| Soda Butte Cr At Park Bndry At Silver Gate | 173 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near East Boulder Tailings Dam.
Boat launches
- Park County
- North Yellowstone Trail Road Sweet Grass County
- Greycliff Bridge Sweet Grass County
- Us 89 Park County
- Pine Creek Road Park County
- East River Road Park County
Campgrounds
- East Boulder - Dispersed
- East Boulder Campground
- Big Beaver Campground
- Big Beaver
- Falls Creek
- Chippy Park
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- Gallatin Forest Boundary, Sec. 26, T3s, R12e To Blakley Creek, Sec. 26, T3s, R12e
- Blakley Creek, Sec. 26, T4s, R12e To Miller Creek, Sec 13, T4s, R21e
- Miller Creek, Sec. 13, T4s, R21e To Bramble Creek, Sec. 26, T5s, R12e
- Bible Run
- Bramble Creek, Sec. 26, T5s, R12e To Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness, Sec. 22, T7s, R12e
- Custer Forest Boundary, Sec. 15, T5s, R15e To Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness Boundary
Track East Boulder Tailings Dam in the Snoflo app
Save this dam as a favorite and get the local NOAA / yr.no forecast plus regional flow context wherever you are.
About East Boulder Tailings Dam
Where does the data for East Boulder Tailings Dam come from?
Structural and regulatory data come from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' National Inventory of Dams (NID). Weather forecast comes from NOAA / yr.no -- the same feed Snoflo's iOS app uses.
How often is the report updated?
NID structural data refreshes annually as the Corps publishes updated assessments. The weather forecast refreshes throughout the day.
What does the High hazard rating mean?
The Corps of Engineers' hazard potential classification grades probable consequences if the dam fails: High = probable loss of human life; Significant = no probable loss of human life but possible economic loss / environmental damage; Low = no probable loss of human life, only minor economic / environmental losses. See the Dam Data Reference card above for the full definitions.
What's "% of normal"?
The current storage value compared to the historical average storage on this calendar day. 100% = right on average; values above 100% mean above-normal storage (wet year); values below mean below-normal (dry year or drought).
Can I get alerts when storage crosses a threshold?
Yes -- alerts are managed in the Snoflo iOS app. Favorite this dam, set a threshold, and you'll get a push the moment conditions cross.
Other water bodies near here
Snoflo-tracked reservoirs and dams within driving distance of East Boulder Tailings Dam.