Three Pronged Fork Dam dam
Three Pronged Fork Dam
Three Pronged Fork Dam, located in Loma, Montana, is a privately owned earth dam completed in 1965. The dam serves multiple purposes, including fire protection, stock watering, and providing a small fish pond. It has a dam height of 10 feet and a length of 100 feet, with a storage capacity of 55 acre-feet and a normal storage level of 12 acre-feet. The dam is situated on the North Fork Dugout Coulee and is regulated by the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation (DNRC).
Despite being classified as having a low hazard potential, Three Pronged Fork Dam is not currently rated for its condition assessment. It is equipped with outlet gates but does not have spillways or locks. The dam has not undergone any major modifications or inspections in recent years, and there is no emergency action plan (EAP) in place. The risk management measures and assessment for the dam are also not documented, indicating a need for further evaluation and planning to ensure the safety and integrity of the structure.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Three Pronged Fork Dam presents an opportunity to study the management and regulation of small earth dams in Montana. The dam's location in Chouteau County provides valuable data on water storage and usage for agricultural and environmental purposes in the region. With its unique combination of uses, including fire protection and fish habitat creation, the dam offers insights into the diverse benefits that small dams can provide to local communities. Further research and monitoring of Three Pronged Fork Dam could contribute to a better understanding of the role of these structures in sustainable water resource management and climate resilience efforts.
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 Three Pronged Fork Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Marias River Near Chester Mt | 604 cfs | → |
| Teton River Near Dutton Mt | 83 cfs | → |
| Marias River Near Loma Mt | 504 cfs | → |
| Lake Creek Near Power Mt | 30 cfs | → |
| Missouri River At Fort Benton Mt | 6,420 cfs | → |
| Teton River At Loma Mt | 26 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Three Pronged Fork Dam.
Track Three Pronged Fork Dam 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 Three Pronged Fork Dam
Where does the data for Three Pronged Fork Dam 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 Three Pronged Fork Dam.