Fish dam
Fish
Fish Creek Dam, located in Dell, Montana, is a private irrigation structure designed by USDA NRCS and completed in 1956. The dam stands at 24 feet tall and has a storage capacity of 113 acre-feet, with a primary purpose of irrigation for the surrounding area. Managed by the Natural Resources Conservation Service, the dam has a low hazard potential and is currently assessed as being in "Not Available" condition.
The Fish Creek Dam plays a crucial role in water resource management in Beaverhead County, Montana, providing essential irrigation water for agricultural activities. Situated in the Fish Creek watershed, this earth dam helps regulate water flow and storage, contributing to sustainable water use in the region. Despite its age, the dam continues to fulfill its intended purpose effectively, highlighting the importance of maintaining and monitoring infrastructure for water resource sustainability.
With its strategic location in the Walla Walla District and under the jurisdiction of the Forest Service, the Fish Creek Dam serves as a vital water management tool in the region. As the climate continues to change and water resources become increasingly scarce, structures like the Fish Creek Dam play a critical role in ensuring water availability for agriculture and other uses. By leveraging the expertise of agencies like USDA NRCS, the dam remains a key asset for water security in the area.
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 Fish -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Red Rock Cr Ab Lakes Nr Lakeview Mt | 64 cfs | → |
| Madison River At Kirby Ranch Nr Cameron Mt | 770 cfs | → |
| Red Rock R Bl Lima Reservoir Nr Monida Mt | 49 cfs | → |
| Beaver Creek At Spencer Id 12n-36e-23a | 22 cfs | → |
| Madison River Bl Hebgen Lake Nr Grayling Mt | 383 cfs | → |
| Henrys Fork Nr Lake Id | 8 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Fish.
Boat launches
- Windy Point Boat Launch
- Palisades Day Use
- Ruby Creek Boat Launch
- Henry's Lake - Boat Access
- Mcatee Bridge Madison County
- Quake Lake Boat Launch
Campgrounds
- Antone Station
- Black Butte Cabin
- East Fork Blacktail Deer Creek Wsa
- Upper Lake
- Upper Lake Campground
- Elk Lake Dispersed Camping And Picnic Area
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- Fossil Ck & Wf Madison, Sec. 27, T12s, R2w To Miner Creek, Sec. 30 T12s, R2w
- 1/4 Mi West Landon Camp, Sec. 31, T12s, R1w To Fossil Creek, Sec. 27, T12s, R2w
- 1/2 Below Landon Camp, Sec. 32, T12s, R1w To Up River 3/4 Mi, Sec. 31, T12s, R1w
- Dirty Ck To Elk River & Gravelly Range Road #290, Sec. 15 T11s R2w
- Shakelford Homestead, Sec. 26, T12s, R1w To 1/2 Mi Below Landon Camp, Sec. 32, T12s, R1w
- Elk Rv & Wf Madison Rv, Sec. 17, T12s, R1e To Dirty Creek, Sec. 11, T11s, R1w
More reservoirs
Track Fish 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 Fish
Where does the data for Fish 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 Fish.