Toy Box dam
Toy Box
Toy Box is a private earth dam located in Fort Benton, Montana, constructed in 1973 for fire protection, stock, and small fish pond purposes. The dam has a height of 30 feet and a storage capacity of 67 acre-feet, with a low hazard potential and a condition assessment of "Not Rated." The dam is regulated by the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation (DNRC), with state jurisdiction, permitting, inspection, and enforcement in place to ensure its safety and compliance with regulations.
Situated in Chouteau County, Toy Box is fed by diffused surface water and serves as an essential resource for the local area, providing water for firefighting, livestock, and recreational fishing. The dam's location in Congressional District 00, Montana, falls under the oversight of Representative Greg Gianforte (R), with no federal agency involvement in its ownership, funding, design, construction, or operation. Despite its age, Toy Box has not been rated for its current condition, highlighting the need for continued monitoring and maintenance to uphold its functionality and safety for the surrounding community.
With a storage capacity of 67 acre-feet and a normal storage level of 20 acre-feet, Toy Box plays a crucial role in water resource management in the region, supporting various uses while maintaining a low hazard potential. As a privately owned structure, the dam's compliance with state regulations and regular inspections by the DNRC ensure its stability and effectiveness in meeting the needs of Fort Benton and its residents. As water resource and climate enthusiasts, understanding the significance of Toy Box in sustaining local ecosystems and livelihoods underscores the importance of responsible dam management and monitoring for long-term sustainability and resilience in the face of changing environmental conditions.
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 Toy Box -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Lake Creek Near Power Mt | 30 cfs | → |
| Muddy Creek At Vaughn Mt | 87 cfs | → |
| Sun River Near Vaughn Mt | 1,120 cfs | → |
| Teton River Near Dutton Mt | 83 cfs | → |
| Missouri River Near Great Falls Mt | 5,620 cfs | → |
| Missouri River Near Ulm Mt | 4,040 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Toy Box.
Track Toy Box 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 Toy Box
Where does the data for Toy Box 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 Toy Box.