Van Haur dam
Van Haur
Van Haur is a privately owned irrigation dam located in Fergus, Montana, along the TR-DOG CREEK. Constructed in 1937, this Earth-type dam stands at a height of 12 feet and has a capacity of 70 acre-feet, with a normal storage of 60 acre-feet. With a low hazard potential and a condition assessment of "Not Rated," Van Haur plays a crucial role in providing water for agricultural purposes in the region.
Managed by the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation (DNRC), Van Haur is regulated, inspected, and enforced by the state authorities to ensure its safe operation and maintenance. The dam's primary purpose is irrigation, serving the local farmers in the CHRISTIA area. Despite not being rated for its condition, Van Haur continues to play a key role in water resource management and climate resilience efforts in the region.
Located in Congressional District 00, Montana, Van Haur is a vital infrastructure for water storage and distribution. Although lacking detailed information on its structural assessment and emergency preparedness, the dam's historical significance and contribution to the agricultural sector highlight its importance in sustaining the local economy and ecosystem. As water resource and climate enthusiasts, understanding the role of dams like Van Haur is essential for promoting sustainable water management practices and addressing the challenges posed by 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 Van Haur -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Judith River Nr Mouth | 425 cfs | → |
| Missouri River Near Landusky Mt | 7,050 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Van Haur.
Campgrounds
Fishing spots
- Upper Carters Pond
- Warm Spring Creek
- Lower Hansen Reservoir
- Sage Creek (Judith Drainage)
- Mccartney Creek
- East Fork Cottonwood Creek
Paddle runs
More reservoirs
Track Van Haur 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 Van Haur
Where does the data for Van Haur 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 Van Haur.