Turk dam
Turk
Located in Chouteau, Montana, Turk is a privately owned water resource structure designed by the USDA NRCS for multiple purposes including fire protection, stock, and small fish pond. Completed in 1960, this earth dam stands at 25 feet tall and has a storage capacity of 77 acre-feet. The dam is situated on TR-Little Sandy Creek and is regulated by the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation.
Turk has a low hazard potential and a moderate risk assessment rating, indicating a level of risk management in place. The dam features an uncontrolled spillway with a width of 30 feet and a maximum discharge rate of 135 cubic feet per second. Despite not being rated for condition assessment, Turk is regularly inspected, permitted, and enforced by state authorities to ensure its functionality and safety for the surrounding community.
Turk serves as a vital water resource for the Hole in the Wall Landingrec area, providing essential services for fire protection, livestock, and recreational activities. With its strategic location and multiple functions, Turk represents a valuable asset in the water management and climate resilience efforts in the region, highlighting the importance of sustainable water infrastructure for the local ecosystem and 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 Turk -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Missouri River At Virgelle Mt | 7,010 cfs | → |
| Teton River At Loma Mt | 26 cfs | → |
| Marias River Near Loma Mt | 504 cfs | → |
| Missouri River At Fort Benton Mt | 6,420 cfs | → |
| Big Sandy Creek Near Havre Mt | 4 cfs | → |
| Judith River Nr Mouth | 425 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Turk.
Boat launches
- Little Sandy Coulee Rec Site
- Coal Banks Landing
- Lone Tree Coulee
- Monroe Island
- Eagle Creek Rec Site
- Hole In The Wall Rec Site
Campgrounds
- Little Sandy Coulee Rec Site
- Coal Banks Landing
- Lone Tree Coulee
- Monroe Island
- Eagle Creek Rec Site
- Black Bluff Rapids
Fishing spots
More reservoirs
Track Turk 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 Turk
Where does the data for Turk 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 Turk.