Ernie #1 Dam dam
Ernie #1 Dam
Ernie #1 Dam, located in Musselshell, Montana, is a gravity-type dam owned and operated by the Bureau of Land Management. Its primary purpose is flood risk reduction, serving as a crucial infrastructure for safeguarding the surrounding area from potential flood events. With a hydraulic height of 12 feet and a structural height of 17 feet, the dam plays a vital role in managing water levels in the intermittent river or stream it controls.
The dam has a storage capacity of 515.55 acre-feet and covers a surface area of 80.87 acres, serving a drainage area of 12.5 square miles. Despite its low hazard potential, the dam's condition assessment remains unrated, with the last inspection conducted in November 2018. While the dam has not been modified in recent years, its emergency action plan status and risk assessment measures are currently unspecified. Overall, Ernie #1 Dam stands as a critical piece of infrastructure in Montana's water resource management network, contributing to flood mitigation efforts in the region.
As water resource and climate enthusiasts, understanding the significance of dams like Ernie #1 in mitigating flood risks and managing water levels is crucial. With its federal ownership and operation by the Bureau of Land Management, this gravity dam exemplifies the collaborative efforts needed to protect communities and ecosystems from the impacts of extreme weather events. As we continue to monitor and assess the condition of critical infrastructure like Ernie #1 Dam, we can work towards more resilient and sustainable water resource management practices in the face of 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 Ernie #1 Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Musselshell River Near Roundup Mt | 156 cfs | → |
| Musselshell River At Musselshell Mt | 109 cfs | → |
| Musselshell River Ab Mud Cr Nr Shawmut Mt | 85 cfs | → |
| Flatwillow Creek Near Mosby Mt | 17 cfs | → |
| Musselshell River At Mosby Mt | 112 cfs | → |
| Musselshell River At Harlowton Mt | 108 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Ernie #1 Dam.
Track Ernie #1 Dam 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 Ernie #1 Dam
Where does the data for Ernie #1 Dam 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 Ernie #1 Dam.