Black Coulee Dam dam
Black Coulee Dam
Black Coulee Dam, located in Blaine, Montana, is a Federal-owned structure managed by the Department of Interior's Fish and Wildlife Service. Built in 1938, this Earth-type dam stands at a height of 11 feet and spans 1330 feet, creating a reservoir with a storage capacity of 1398 acre-feet. The primary purpose of Black Coulee Dam is to serve as a Fish and Wildlife Pond, providing essential habitat for local flora and fauna.
Despite its low hazard potential, Black Coulee Dam has been assessed as being in poor condition as of 2012, with a moderate risk level. The dam has undergone structural modifications in 1992 to ensure its continued functionality. The dam features an uncontrolled spillway, slide outlet gates, and a drainage area of 12 square miles. With a history dating back over 80 years, Black Coulee Dam remains a vital component of the local ecosystem, supporting wildlife and water resource management efforts in the region.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Black Coulee Dam offers a compelling case study in the intersection of infrastructure, conservation, and risk management. As a critical component of the Fish and Wildlife Service's operations, the dam demonstrates the importance of sustainable water management practices in maintaining ecosystems and supporting biodiversity. With ongoing assessments and potential maintenance needs, Black Coulee Dam serves as a reminder of the ongoing challenges and responsibilities associated with managing water resources in a changing climate.
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 Black Coulee Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Milk River Near Dodson Mt | 18 cfs | → |
| Milk River Near Harlem Mt | 547 cfs | → |
| Milk River At Malta Mt | 31 cfs | → |
| Peoples Creek Near Hays Mt | 1 cfs | → |
| Battle Creek Near Chinook Mt | 2 cfs | → |
| Beaver Cr Bl Guston Coulee Nr Saco Mt | 67 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Black Coulee Dam.
Track Black Coulee 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 Black Coulee Dam
Where does the data for Black Coulee 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 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.