Soap Creek dam
Soap Creek
Soap Creek is a privately-owned irrigation dam located in Lewis and Clark County, Montana, near the city of Cascade. Completed in 1950, this earth dam stands at a height of 25 feet and has a storage capacity of 222 acre-feet, with a normal storage level of 132 acre-feet. The dam is regulated by the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation (DNRC) and is inspected and enforced by state authorities to ensure its safety and compliance with regulations.
Situated on the TR-Flat Creek, Soap Creek serves as a crucial water resource for agricultural irrigation in the region. With a low hazard potential and a condition assessment of "Not Rated," the dam provides essential water management support for the surrounding area. The dam's primary purpose is irrigation, reflecting its vital role in sustaining local agriculture and ensuring water availability for crop cultivation.
Despite not being rated for condition assessment, Soap Creek remains a key infrastructure for water resource management in Lewis and Clark County. With its strategic location and functional design, this irrigation dam continues to play a significant role in supporting the region's agricultural activities and water supply needs. As climate change impacts water availability and quality, Soap Creek serves as a valuable asset in ensuring sustainable water management practices for the community.
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 Soap Creek -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Sun River Bl Willow Cr Nr Augusta Mt | 1,320 cfs | → |
| Dearborn River Near Craig Mt | 197 cfs | → |
| Sun River At Simms Mt | 1,180 cfs | → |
| Sun River Bl Diversion Dam Nr Augusta Mt | 1,420 cfs | → |
| Little Prickly Pear Cr At Wolf Cr Mt | 88 cfs | → |
| Missouri River Bl Holter Dam Nr Wolf Cr Mt | 3,280 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Soap Creek.
Boat launches
- North Fork Sun River Rec Site
- Lowry Bridge
- Gibson Boating Site
- Holter Dam Boat Ramp
- Beartooth Road Lewis And Clark County
- Holter Lake Boat Ramp
Campgrounds
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- Headwaters, Sec. 13, T18n, R10w To Forest Boundary, Sec. 6, T17n, R7w
- Headwaters, Sec. 15, T18n, R10w To Straight Creek, Sec. 25, T19n, R10w
- Dobrota Headwaters, Sec. 23, T18n, R10w To Mainstem, Sec. 31, T18n, R9w
- Cooney Cr Headwaters, Sec. 17, T19n, R9w To Mainstem, Sec. 1, T17n, R10w
- Snowbank Lake, Sec. 4, T15n, R8w To Landers Fork Blackfoot River, Sec. 36, T15n, R8w
- Dry Fork Headwaters, Sec. 30, T17n, R10w To Mainstem, Sec. 30, T17n, R10w
More reservoirs
Track Soap Creek 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 Soap Creek
Where does the data for Soap Creek 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 Soap Creek.