Dana-Cameron Ranch dam
Dana-Cameron Ranch
Dana-Cameron Ranch, located in Cascade, Montana, is a privately owned property with a dam constructed in 1940 by the USDA NRCS for fire protection, stock, and small fish pond purposes. The earth dam stands at a height of 20 feet and stretches 150 feet in length, with a storage capacity of 70 acre-feet and a drainage area of 2.56 square miles. Situated along the TR-Missouri River, the dam has a low hazard potential and is currently rated as "Not Rated" in terms of condition assessment.
Managed by the DNRC and regulated by the state of Montana, Dana-Cameron Ranch's dam is subject to regular inspections, permitting, and enforcement to ensure its safety and compliance with state regulations. The dam's primary purpose of fire protection highlights its importance in the region's water resource and climate management efforts, contributing to the ranch's overall sustainability and resilience. With its strategic location and historical significance, the dam at Dana-Cameron Ranch serves as a vital infrastructure for both agricultural and environmental purposes in the area.
As a key feature in the watershed, Dana-Cameron Ranch's dam plays a crucial role in water storage, irrigation, and flood control along the TR-Missouri River. Its completion in 1940 reflects a long-standing commitment to water resource management and sustainable development in the region, showcasing the collaborative efforts between private landowners, government agencies, and conservation organizations. With its low hazard potential and state-of-the-art design by the USDA NRCS, the dam at Dana-Cameron Ranch stands as a testament to the importance of responsible water infrastructure in mitigating the impacts of climate change and ensuring the well-being of local communities.
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 Dana-Cameron Ranch -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Missouri River At Cascade Mt | 3,530 cfs | → |
| Smith River Near Eden Mt | 434 cfs | → |
| Missouri River Near Ulm Mt | 4,040 cfs | → |
| Dearborn River Near Craig Mt | 174 cfs | → |
| Sun River Near Vaughn Mt | 1,120 cfs | → |
| Missouri River Bl Holter Dam Nr Wolf Cr Mt | 3,230 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Dana-Cameron Ranch.
Boat launches
- Old Us Highway 91 Cascade County
- Cascade County
- Big Bend Boat Ramp
- Beartooth Road Lewis And Clark County
- Holter Lake Boat Ramp
- Log Gulch Boat Ramp
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
- Rock Creek (Smith Drainage)
- Duck Creek
- Logging Creek
- 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 Dana-Cameron Ranch 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 Dana-Cameron Ranch
Where does the data for Dana-Cameron Ranch 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 Dana-Cameron Ranch.