Fort Belknap No. 16 dam
Fort Belknap No. 16
Fort Belknap No. 16 is a historic dam located in Phillips, Montana, completed in 1937 and managed by the Department of the Interior Bureau of Indian Affairs. With a dam height of 17 feet and a storage capacity of 72 acre-feet, the structure serves as a crucial water resource for the surrounding area. While the dam is not regulated by the state and has a low hazard potential, its presence plays an essential role in water management and conservation efforts in the region.
Despite its age, the condition assessment of Fort Belknap No. 16 is currently listed as "Not Available," indicating a need for further evaluation and maintenance. The dam's emergency action plan status and risk assessment are also marked as incomplete, suggesting a potential area for improvement in emergency preparedness. As climate change continues to impact water resources, understanding and monitoring the condition of structures like Fort Belknap No. 16 becomes increasingly important for sustainable water management practices.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Fort Belknap No. 16 offers a valuable case study in the intersection of infrastructure, environmental conservation, and climate resilience. As efforts to address water scarcity and quality intensify, the maintenance and monitoring of dams like Fort Belknap No. 16 will be crucial for ensuring the long-term sustainability of water resources in the region. By staying engaged with the condition and management of such structures, enthusiasts can contribute to the broader conversation on water security and climate adaptation.
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 Fort Belknap No. 16 -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Peoples Creek Near Hays Mt | 4 cfs | → |
| Milk River Near Dodson Mt | 18 cfs | → |
| Milk River Near Harlem Mt | 461 cfs | → |
| Milk River At Malta Mt | 50 cfs | → |
| Missouri River Near Landusky Mt | 7,380 cfs | → |
| Beaver Cr Bl Guston Coulee Nr Saco Mt | 67 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Fort Belknap No. 16.
Track Fort Belknap No. 16 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 Fort Belknap No. 16
Where does the data for Fort Belknap No. 16 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 Fort Belknap No. 16.