Spring Creek (Meagher) dam
Spring Creek (Meagher)
Spring Creek (Meagher) is a privately owned irrigation dam located in Meagher County, Montana. Completed in 1949, the earth dam stands at a height of 30 feet and has a storage capacity of 134 acre-feet, with a normal storage level of 40 acre-feet. The dam serves the primary purpose of irrigation, providing water for agricultural activities in the area.
Managed by the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation (DNRC), the dam is regulated, inspected, and enforced by state authorities. With a low hazard potential, the condition of the dam is currently not rated, highlighting the need for ongoing monitoring and assessment to ensure its structural integrity and safety. Located in the Great Falls area, the dam plays a crucial role in water resource management in the region, offering a glimpse into the intersection of water infrastructure and climate considerations.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Spring Creek (Meagher) presents a fascinating case study of a vintage irrigation dam in a rural setting. The dam's historical significance, combined with its operational purpose and regulatory framework, offers insights into the challenges and opportunities of managing water resources in a changing climate. As policymakers and stakeholders work towards sustainable water management practices, understanding the intricacies of dams like Spring Creek can provide valuable lessons for mitigating risks and enhancing resilience in the face of climate variability.
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 Spring Creek (Meagher) -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Smith River Near Ft Logan Mt | 198 cfs | → |
| Smith River Bl Eagle Cr Nr Fort Logan Mt | 371 cfs | → |
| South Fork Musselshell R Ab Martinsdale Mt | 43 cfs | → |
| Musselshell River Nr Martinsdale | 161 cfs | → |
| Belt Creek Near Monarch Mt | 255 cfs | → |
| Missouri River At Toston Mt | 5,170 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Spring Creek (Meagher).
Campgrounds
- Newlan Creek Reservoir Fas
- Jumping Creek
- Jumping Creek Campground
- Grasshopper Campground
- Grasshopper
- Calf Creek Cabin
Fishing spots
- Newlan Reservoir
- Newlan Creek
- North Fork Smith River
- Sheep Creek (Smith Drainage)
- Jumping Creek
- North Fork Musselshell River
Paddle runs
- Camp Baker To Eden Bridge
- Falls, Sec. 25, T14n, R4e To Smith River, Sec. 25, T14n, R3e
- Arch Coulee Junction, Sec. 32, T13n, R11e To Forest Boundary, Sec. 35, T13n, R11e
- Tenderfoot Creek, Sec. 30, T14n, R4e To Deep Creek, Sec. 31, T16n, R4e
- Missouri River
- Town Of Nelson, Sec. 12, T12n, R2w To Missouri River, Sec. 19, T12n, R2w
Track Spring Creek (Meagher) 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 Spring Creek (Meagher)
Where does the data for Spring Creek (Meagher) 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 Spring Creek (Meagher).