Skoyen dam
Skoyen
Skoyen is a privately owned water resource located in Chinook, Montana, along the N Chinook Irrigation Canal. Built in 1958, this earth dam serves multiple purposes, including fire protection, stock watering, and creating a small fish pond. The dam stands at a height of 20 feet and has a storage capacity of 152 acre-feet, with a normal storage level of 64 acre-feet. With a low hazard potential, Skoyen is regulated by the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation (DNRC), ensuring that it meets state permitting, inspection, and enforcement requirements.
Located in Blaine County, Skoyen covers a surface area of 150 feet and plays a crucial role in providing water for various uses in the region. The dam's primary purpose of fire protection highlights its importance in safeguarding the surrounding area from potential wildfires. Despite not being rated for condition assessment, Skoyen remains a vital asset for water resource management in the region. With its strategic location and low hazard potential, Skoyen serves as a key infrastructure for water supply and environmental conservation efforts in the area.
As a significant water resource managed by a private entity, Skoyen contributes to the overall water management strategy in Montana. Its presence along the N Chinook Irrigation Canal ensures a reliable supply for stock watering and fire protection, while also offering recreational opportunities such as small fish ponds. With state jurisdiction and regulatory oversight by the DNRC, Skoyen is well-maintained and adheres to state permitting and inspection requirements. Its role in water storage and management underscores the importance of sustainable practices in the face of changing climate conditions and increasing water demands.
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 Skoyen -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Battle Creek Near Chinook Mt | 2 cfs | → |
| Clear Creek Near Chinook Mt | 6 cfs | → |
| Milk River At Havre Mt | 969 cfs | → |
| Big Sandy Creek Near Havre Mt | 4 cfs | → |
| Milk River Near Harlem Mt | 547 cfs | → |
| Peoples Creek Near Hays Mt | 3 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Skoyen.
Track Skoyen 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 Skoyen
Where does the data for Skoyen 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 Skoyen.