Half Barrel Detention Dam dam
Half Barrel Detention Dam
Half Barrel Detention Dam, located in Nashua, Montana, is a gravity dam with a primary purpose of fire protection, stock, or small fish pond. Built in 1956 by the Bureau of Land Management, this dam stands at a hydraulic height of 18 feet and a length of 1255 feet, providing a storage capacity of 144 acre-feet. Situated on Willow Creek/Milk River, the dam serves as a crucial resource for water management in the region, with a low hazard potential and moderate risk assessment rating.
Despite its importance, Half Barrel Detention Dam has been marked as unsatisfactory in terms of condition assessment, raising concerns about its long-term stability and functionality. The dam is uncontrolled spillway type with a spillway width of 3 feet, posing potential challenges in handling excess water during periods of high flow. With the last inspection conducted in 2009, there is a pressing need for regular monitoring and maintenance to ensure the safety and efficiency of this vital water resource infrastructure.
As a Federal-owned structure under the supervision of the Bureau of Land Management, Half Barrel Detention Dam plays a key role in water storage and regulation in Valley County, Montana. With its unique design and historical significance, this dam serves as a reminder of the intricate balance between water resource management and climate resilience in the region. Efforts must be made to address the dam's maintenance issues and improve its overall condition to safeguard the surrounding community and environment from potential risks and disruptions.
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 Half Barrel Detention Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Milk River At Tampico Mt | 65 cfs | → |
| Milk River At Nashua Mt | 101 cfs | → |
| Beaver Creek Near Hinsdale Mt | 35 cfs | → |
| Beaver Cr Bl Guston Coulee Nr Saco Mt | 67 cfs | → |
| Nelson Creek Near Van Norman Mt | 0 cfs | → |
| Milk River At Juneberg Bridge Nr Saco Mt | 182 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Half Barrel Detention Dam.
Track Half Barrel Detention 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 Half Barrel Detention Dam
Where does the data for Half Barrel Detention 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.
Other water bodies near here
Snoflo-tracked reservoirs and dams within driving distance of Half Barrel Detention Dam.