Magnum South dam
Magnum South
Magnum South, also known as Burkhartsmeyer Reservoir, is a privately owned dam located in Hill County, Montana. Built in 1950, the primary purpose of this earthen dam is irrigation, serving the local agricultural community by providing a storage capacity of 711 acre-feet. Situated along the TR-Sage Creek, Magnum South is regulated and inspected by the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation (DNRC), ensuring its structural integrity and operational safety.
With a dam height of 15 feet and a length of 600 feet, Magnum South has a low hazard potential and is currently rated as "Not Rated" in terms of its condition assessment. The dam's normal storage capacity is 364 acre-feet, making it a vital water resource for the surrounding area. Although the dam has not been modified in recent years and lacks certain emergency preparedness measures such as an Emergency Action Plan (EAP), it continues to play a crucial role in supporting local agriculture and water management efforts in the region.
In the picturesque city of Gildford, Montana, Magnum South stands as a testament to the importance of water infrastructure in sustaining communities and ecosystems. As water resource and climate enthusiasts, understanding the significance of dams like Magnum South in regulating water flow, providing irrigation, and ensuring water security is essential for promoting sustainable water management practices in the face of changing climate conditions.
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 Magnum South -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Milk River At Eastern Crossing Of Int Bndry | 554 cfs | → |
| Big Sandy Creek Near Havre Mt | 4 cfs | → |
| Milk River At Havre Mt | 969 cfs | → |
| Marias River Near Chester Mt | 604 cfs | → |
| Clear Creek Near Chinook Mt | 6 cfs | → |
| Missouri River At Virgelle Mt | 6,600 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Magnum South.
Track Magnum South 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 Magnum South
Where does the data for Magnum South 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 Magnum South.