Cottonwood Dam (Park) dam
Cottonwood Dam (Park)
Cottonwood Dam, located in Park, Montana, along Cottonwood Creek, is a state-owned structure primarily used for irrigation purposes. Completed in 1953, this earth dam stands at a height of 39 feet and has a length of 610 feet, providing a maximum storage capacity of 3,670 acre-feet. With a normal storage capacity of 1,905 acre-feet and a drainage area of 34 square miles, the dam plays a crucial role in water resource management in the region.
Despite being classified as having a high hazard potential, the condition assessment of Cottonwood Dam is reported as fair, with the last inspection conducted in April 2021. The dam features an uncontrolled spillway with a width of 70 feet and has a moderate risk assessment rating. The dam's emergency action plan status and risk management measures are not specified in the available data, suggesting a potential area for improvement in emergency preparedness and response.
Being under the regulatory oversight of the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation (DNRC), Cottonwood Dam serves as an essential infrastructure for water supply and agricultural purposes in the region. Water resource and climate enthusiasts would find interest in the dam's historical significance, engineering design, and ongoing management practices that contribute to the sustainable utilization of water resources in Montana.
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 Cottonwood Dam (Park) -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Shields River Nr Livingston Mt | 198 cfs | → |
| Yellowstone River Near Livingston Mt | 5,850 cfs | → |
| South Fork Musselshell R Ab Martinsdale Mt | 43 cfs | → |
| Missouri River At Toston Mt | 4,500 cfs | → |
| Musselshell River Nr Martinsdale | 129 cfs | → |
| Hyalite C At Hyalite R S Nr Bozeman Mt | 44 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Cottonwood Dam (Park).
Campgrounds
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
- Madison River
- Miller Creek, Sec. 13, T4s, R21e To Bramble Creek, Sec. 26, T5s, R12e
More reservoirs
Track Cottonwood Dam (Park) 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 Cottonwood Dam (Park)
Where does the data for Cottonwood Dam (Park) 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 Cottonwood Dam (Park).