Manger dam
Manger
Manger is a private irrigation dam located in Meagher County, Montana, along Fords Creek. Built in 1937 by the USDA NRCS, this Earth-type dam stands at 20 feet high and spans 450 feet in length, with a storage capacity of 82 acre-feet. While it currently has a low hazard potential and is not rated for condition assessment, Manger is regulated by the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation (DNRC), with state permitting, inspection, and enforcement in place to ensure its safety and compliance.
Situated in Congressional District 00, Montana, Manger serves as a vital water resource for agricultural irrigation in the region. With a drainage area of 3.91 square miles and a maximum discharge capacity of 400 cubic feet per second, this dam plays a crucial role in water management and distribution. Despite not having been modified in recent years, Manger remains an essential infrastructure for water supply and conservation efforts in the area, contributing to the sustainable use of water resources for climate resilience.
As a part of the larger network of dams and water structures in Montana, Manger exemplifies the collaborative efforts between federal agencies like the Natural Resources Conservation Service and state regulators to manage water resources effectively. With its location in the Walla Walla District and under the jurisdiction of the DNRC, Manger highlights the importance of maintaining and monitoring dams for irrigation purposes, showcasing the intersection of water management, climate adaptation, and agricultural sustainability in the region.
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 Manger -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| South Fork Musselshell R Ab Martinsdale Mt | 43 cfs | → |
| Smith River Near Ft Logan Mt | 160 cfs | → |
| Smith River Bl Eagle Cr Nr Fort Logan Mt | 309 cfs | → |
| Musselshell River Nr Martinsdale | 129 cfs | → |
| Missouri River At Toston Mt | 4,500 cfs | → |
| Musselshell River At Harlowton Mt | 139 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Manger.
Campgrounds
- Grasshopper
- Grasshopper Campground
- Richardson Campground
- Newlan Creek Reservoir Fas
- Skidway Campground
- Skidway
Fishing spots
- North Fork Smith River
- Newlan Reservoir
- Newlan Creek
- Indian Creek
- Bair Reservoir
- North Fork Musselshell River
Paddle runs
- Camp Baker To Eden Bridge
- Falls, Sec. 25, T14n, R4e To Smith River, Sec. 25, T14n, R3e
- Arch Coulee Junction, Sec. 32, T13n, R11e To Forest Boundary, Sec. 35, T13n, R11e
- Tenderfoot Creek, Sec. 30, T14n, R4e To Deep Creek, Sec. 31, T16n, R4e
- Missouri River
- Town Of Nelson, Sec. 12, T12n, R2w To Missouri River, Sec. 19, T12n, R2w
Track Manger 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 Manger
Where does the data for Manger 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 Low 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 Manger.