Shields Fields dam
Shields Fields
Shields Fields is a privately owned earth dam located in Roosevelt County, Montana, specifically in the city of NOHLY. Completed in 1960, this dam serves multiple purposes including fire protection, stock watering, and small fish pond enhancement. The dam stands at a height of 30 feet and has a storage capacity of 33 acre-feet, with a normal storage level of 21 acre-feet. Situated on TR-LITTLE MUDDY CREEK, Shields Fields plays a crucial role in the local water resource management, particularly for irrigation and livestock needs in the area.
Managed by the Montana DNRC, Shields Fields has a low hazard potential and is currently rated as 'Not Rated' in terms of condition assessment. With no recent inspection data available, the dam's emergency action plan status, inundation maps, and risk assessment details are also unknown. Despite these gaps, Shields Fields remains a vital infrastructure for the community, ensuring water availability for agricultural and fire protection purposes. As water resource and climate enthusiasts, staying informed about the condition and management of dams like Shields Fields is key to sustainable water resource utilization and climate resilience in the region.
Located in Congressional District 00 of Montana, Shields Fields overlooks the scenic landscape of S22 28N 59E. With no federal ownership or funding, this private dam reflects the importance of local stakeholders in water resource management. As climate change poses challenges to water availability and quality, monitoring and maintaining infrastructure like Shields Fields are essential for ensuring water security and adaptation to changing environmental conditions. As enthusiasts in water resource and climate issues, understanding the role of dams like Shields Fields in the broader context of water management and climate resilience is crucial for promoting sustainable practices and safeguarding water resources for future generations.
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 Shields Fields -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Missouri River Near Culbertson Mt | 5,080 cfs | → |
| Little Muddy River Bl Cow Creek Nr Williston | 17 cfs | → |
| Charbonneau Creek Nr Charbonneau | 0 cfs | → |
| Big Muddy Cr Nr Mouth Nr Culbertson Mt | 11 cfs | → |
| Yellowstone River Near Sidney Mt | 13,400 cfs | → |
| Big Muddy Creek Near Antelope Mt | 11 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Shields Fields.
Track Shields Fields 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 Shields Fields
Where does the data for Shields Fields 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 Shields Fields.