Missouri Bird dam
Missouri Bird
Missouri Bird is a privately owned dam located in Cascade, Montana, specifically in the city of ULM. Built in 1930, this earth dam stands at a height of 15 feet and has a capacity to store 50 acre-feet of water for purposes such as fire protection, stock, or as a small fish pond. The dam is situated on the TR-BIRD CREEK and is under the jurisdiction of the DNRC with state permitting, inspection, and enforcement in place to ensure its safety and compliance with regulations.
With a low hazard potential and a condition assessment of "Not Rated," Missouri Bird serves as a vital water resource for the area. Its primary purpose reflects its importance for various uses, including ensuring fire protection, supporting livestock, and providing a habitat for small fish. Despite its age, the dam continues to play a crucial role in water management in the region, showcasing the significance of maintaining and monitoring such infrastructure for both environmental and agricultural purposes.
As water resource and climate enthusiasts, the data on Missouri Bird highlights the intricate balance between water management and environmental stewardship. Understanding the history, design, and purpose of dams like Missouri Bird provides valuable insight into the ways in which water resources are harnessed and utilized for the benefit of communities. By recognizing the importance of maintaining and regulating such infrastructure, we can work towards sustainable water management practices that support both human needs and ecosystem health 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 Missouri Bird -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Missouri River At Cascade Mt | 3,630 cfs | → |
| Smith River Near Eden Mt | 480 cfs | → |
| Missouri River Near Ulm Mt | 4,120 cfs | → |
| Sun River Near Vaughn Mt | 1,420 cfs | → |
| Muddy Creek At Vaughn Mt | 112 cfs | → |
| Sun River At Simms Mt | 1,180 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Missouri Bird.
Boat launches
- Old Us Highway 91 Cascade County
- Cascade County
- Big Bend Boat Ramp
- River Drive South 814, Great Falls
- Lowry Bridge
- Beartooth Road Lewis And Clark County
Campgrounds
- American Legion/Lions Park - Cascade
- Pelican Point Fas
- Prewett Creek Fas
- Mountain Palace Fas
- Mid Canon Fas
- Dearborn Fas
Fishing spots
- Hound Creek
- Dearborn River
- Duck Creek
- Logging Creek
- Rock Creek (Smith Drainage)
- Dry Creek-Krezelok Reservoir
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
- Missouri River
- Hauser Dam, Sec. 29, T12n, R2w To Cochran Gulch, Sec. 18, T12n, R2w
- Town Of Nelson, Sec. 12, T12n, R2w To Missouri River, Sec. 19, T12n, R2w
Track Missouri Bird 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 Missouri Bird
Where does the data for Missouri Bird 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 Missouri Bird.