South Meadow Creek Dam dam
South Meadow Creek Dam
South Meadow Creek Dam, located in Mcallister, Montana, was completed in 1968 and is primarily used for irrigation purposes. Owned privately, the dam stands at a height of 22 feet with a hydraulic height of 16 feet and a length of 345 feet. With a storage capacity of 1,130 acre-feet, the dam serves to regulate water flow from Meadow Creek S, covering a drainage area of 1.6 square miles.
Managed and designed by the USDA NRCS, South Meadow Creek Dam is regulated by the Forest Service and funded by the Natural Resources Conservation Service. Despite its high hazard potential, the condition assessment is currently not available, reflecting the need for further inspection and maintenance. With a maximum discharge of 1,160 cubic feet per second, the dam plays a crucial role in ensuring water availability for agricultural activities in the region.
Enthusiasts of water resources and climate will find South Meadow Creek Dam a vital infrastructure in the conservation and management of water in Madison County, Montana. The dam's significance in providing irrigation water to the surrounding areas underscores the importance of monitoring its condition and ensuring its long-term functionality. With its construction dating back to over five decades ago, the dam's role in sustaining water resources in the region remains essential, highlighting the ongoing need for proper maintenance and risk management measures.
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 South Meadow Creek Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Madison River Ab Powerplant Nr Mcallister Mt | 230 cfs | → |
| Madison River Bl Ennis Lake Nr Mcallister Mt | 1,140 cfs | → |
| Ruby River Bl Reservoir Nr Alder Mt | 345 cfs | → |
| Madison River Near Cameron Mt | 851 cfs | → |
| Ruby River Near Twin Bridges Mt | 31 cfs | → |
| Willow Creek Near Harrison Mt | 6 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near South Meadow Creek Dam.
Boat launches
- Trail Creek Day Use
- Power House Boat Launch
- Fall Creek Day Use
- Montana Highway 84 Madison County
- Warm Springs Day Use
- Canaday Boat Launch
Campgrounds
Fishing spots
Track South Meadow Creek 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 South Meadow Creek Dam
Where does the data for South Meadow Creek 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 South Meadow Creek Dam.