Chip Dipper dam
Chip Dipper
Chip Dipper is a private earth dam located in Montana, specifically in the city of Iliad, Chouteau County. Built in 1956, this dam serves multiple purposes including fire protection, stock, and small fish pond. With a height of 20 feet and a length of 50 feet, Chip Dipper has a storage capacity of 51 acre-feet and a maximum storage of 51 acre-feet.
Managed by the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation (DNRC), Chip Dipper is regulated, permitted, inspected, and enforced by the state. Despite being classified as a low hazard potential structure, the dam's condition assessment is currently listed as "Not Rated." The dam's emergency action plan status, risk assessment, and risk management measures are also not available at this time.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Chip Dipper is an intriguing structure with a unique history and purpose. Situated along Chip Creek, this private earth dam plays a crucial role in providing fire protection, stock water, and a habitat for small fish. With its state-regulated status and low hazard potential, Chip Dipper offers an interesting case study in dam management and maintenance in Montana's picturesque landscape.
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 Chip Dipper -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Judith River Nr Mouth | 425 cfs | → |
| Missouri River At Virgelle Mt | 7,010 cfs | → |
| Teton River At Loma Mt | 26 cfs | → |
| Marias River Near Loma Mt | 504 cfs | → |
| Missouri River At Fort Benton Mt | 6,420 cfs | → |
| Missouri River Near Landusky Mt | 7,050 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Chip Dipper.
Boat launches
Campgrounds
Track Chip Dipper 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 Chip Dipper
Where does the data for Chip Dipper 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.