Sunny Bueno dam
Sunny Bueno
Sunny Bueno is a privately owned Earth dam located in Black Eagle, Montana, with the primary purpose of serving as a fire protection, stock, or small fish pond. Completed in 1953, this dam stands at a height of 30 feet and has a storage capacity of 57 acre-feet, making it a vital resource for the surrounding area. The dam is regulated by the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation, ensuring that it meets state inspection, enforcement, and permitting requirements.
With its location on the TR-Sun River, Sunny Bueno plays a crucial role in maintaining water resources and supporting the local ecosystem. The dam's low hazard potential and current "Not Rated" condition assessment indicate that it is in good standing, providing a sense of security for those who rely on its services. While the dam has not been modified in recent years and lacks certain features like spillways and outlet gates, its presence remains essential for fire protection and agricultural needs in the region.
As water resource and climate enthusiasts, the details of Sunny Bueno's design, purpose, and history offer valuable insights into the intersection of human infrastructure and natural ecosystems. By understanding the importance of dams like Sunny Bueno in managing water resources and mitigating risks, we can appreciate the efforts made to balance human needs with environmental stewardship in our changing world.
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 Sunny Bueno -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Sun River Near Vaughn Mt | 1,120 cfs | → |
| Muddy Creek At Vaughn Mt | 87 cfs | → |
| Missouri River Near Ulm Mt | 4,040 cfs | → |
| Lake Creek Near Power Mt | 30 cfs | → |
| Missouri River At Cascade Mt | 3,530 cfs | → |
| Sun River At Simms Mt | 1,030 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Sunny Bueno.
Boat launches
- River Drive South 814, Great Falls
- Big Bend Boat Ramp
- Old Us Highway 91 Cascade County
- Cascade County
- Lowry Bridge
Campgrounds
- Gateway Military - Malmstrom Afb
- American Legion/Lions Park - Cascade
- Lowry Bridge
- Lowry Camp Site
- Fairfield City Park
- Pelican Point Fas
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- Tenderfoot Creek, Sec. 30, T14n, R4e To Deep Creek, Sec. 31, T16n, R4e
- Falls, Sec. 25, T14n, R4e To Smith River, Sec. 25, T14n, R3e
- Headwaters, Sec. 13, T18n, R10w To Forest Boundary, Sec. 6, T17n, R7w
- Camp Baker To Eden Bridge
- Missouri River
- Hauser Dam, Sec. 29, T12n, R2w To Cochran Gulch, Sec. 18, T12n, R2w
Track Sunny Bueno 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 Sunny Bueno
Where does the data for Sunny Bueno 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 Sunny Bueno.