Costly Coulee Reservoir dam
Costly Coulee Reservoir
Costly Coulee Reservoir, located in Teton, Montana, is a privately owned earth dam constructed in 1950 for fire protection, stock, and small fish pond purposes. The reservoir has a dam height of 15 feet and a storage capacity of 55 acre-feet, with a normal storage level of 22 acre-feet. Situated on TR-Silverman Springs Coulee, this reservoir plays a crucial role in providing water resources for the local community.
Managed by the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation (DNRC), Costly Coulee Reservoir is regulated, inspected, and enforced by the state, ensuring its safety and compliance with regulations. Despite its low hazard potential, the dam's condition assessment is currently not rated, highlighting the need for ongoing monitoring and maintenance to prevent potential risks. The reservoir serves as a vital resource for water supply, irrigation, and wildlife habitat in the region, making it a significant asset for both humans and the environment.
As a key component of the local water infrastructure, Costly Coulee Reservoir plays a crucial role in supporting various activities such as firefighting, livestock watering, and recreational fishing. With its strategic location and storage capacity, this reservoir serves as a valuable resource for the community and underscores the importance of sustainable water management practices in the face of changing climate conditions. As water resource and climate enthusiasts, it is essential to recognize the significance of reservoirs like Costly Coulee in maintaining water security and resilience in the region.
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 Costly Coulee Reservoir -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Sun River Bl Willow Cr Nr Augusta Mt | 1,320 cfs | → |
| Sun River At Simms Mt | 1,030 cfs | → |
| Teton River Bl South Fork Nr Choteau Mt | 210 cfs | → |
| Sun River Bl Diversion Dam Nr Augusta Mt | 1,420 cfs | → |
| Muddy Creek At Vaughn Mt | 112 cfs | → |
| Teton River Near Dutton Mt | 83 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Costly Coulee Reservoir.
Boat launches
Campgrounds
- Choteau Mountain View Campground
- Fairfield City Park
- Lowry Bridge
- Lowry Camp Site
- Pishkun Reservoir Fas
- Willow Creek Fas
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- Wilderness Boundary To South Fork Sun River, Sec. 26, T22n, R10w
- Headwaters, Sec. 4, T18n, R10w To North Fork Sun River, Sec. 26, T22n, R10w
- Fool Creek, Sec. 24, T25n, R11w To Wilderness Boundary
- Headwaters, Sec. 13, T18n, R10w To Forest Boundary, Sec. 6, T17n, R7w
- Headwaters, Sec. 15, T18n, R10w To Straight Creek, Sec. 25, T19n, R10w
- Dobrota Headwaters, Sec. 23, T18n, R10w To Mainstem, Sec. 31, T18n, R9w
Track Costly Coulee Reservoir 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 Costly Coulee Reservoir
Where does the data for Costly Coulee Reservoir 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 Costly Coulee Reservoir.