Sportman Dam dam
Sportman Dam
Sportman Dam, located in Richland County, Montana, was completed in 1959 by the USDA NRCS and serves multiple purposes including fire protection, stock water supply, and small fish pond management. The earth dam stands at a height of 12 feet with a length of 200 feet, creating a storage capacity of 107 acre-feet. Situated on Brorson Creek, the dam is regulated by the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation (DNRC) and is inspected regularly to ensure its safety and functionality.
With a low hazard potential and a moderate risk assessment rating, Sportman Dam plays a crucial role in managing water resources in the area. The uncontrolled spillway, with a width of 100 feet, can handle a maximum discharge of 1000 cubic feet per second, providing flood protection to the surrounding area. The dam's location in a rural setting near Sidney underscores its importance in supporting agricultural activities and enhancing water availability for livestock and wildlife.
As water resources and climate enthusiasts, understanding the infrastructure and management of dams like Sportman Dam is vital for ensuring sustainable water use and ecosystem health. By recognizing the multi-faceted purposes of these structures and the agencies responsible for their oversight, we can work towards effective water resource management and climate adaptation strategies in the face of changing environmental conditions.
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 Sportman Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Yellowstone River Near Sidney Mt | 18,200 cfs | → |
| Charbonneau Creek Nr Charbonneau | 0 cfs | → |
| Missouri River Near Culbertson Mt | 5,030 cfs | → |
| Big Muddy Cr Nr Mouth Nr Culbertson Mt | 10 cfs | → |
| Beaver Creek Nr Trotters | 2 cfs | → |
| Little Missouri River Nr Watford City | 40 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Sportman Dam.
Campgrounds
- Seven Sisters Fas
- Sharbano City Park
- Sundheim Park
- Snowden Bridge Fas
- Fort Buford State Historic Site
- Sather Lake
Paddle runs
More reservoirs
Track Sportman 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 Sportman Dam
Where does the data for Sportman 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 Sportman Dam.