Artic dam
Artic
Located in Chouteau, Montana, the Artic dam serves multiple purposes including fire protection, stock, and small fish pond maintenance. Completed in 1950, this earth dam stands at a height of 25 feet with a length of 500 feet, providing a storage capacity of 52 acre-feet. Situated on the TR-Rattlesnake Coulee, this privately owned structure is regulated by the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation (DNRC) and is subject to state permitting, inspection, and enforcement.
With a low hazard potential and a condition assessment that has not been rated, the Artic dam plays a crucial role in the local water resource management. Despite its age, the dam continues to operate without any major modifications over the years. Emergency action plans and risk assessments for the dam have not been prepared or updated, indicating a potential area for improvement in ensuring the safety and resilience of the structure in the face of changing climate conditions.
As a key component in the water infrastructure of the region, the Artic dam's strategic location and purposeful design make it a vital asset for maintaining water availability and fire protection in the area. As the effects of climate change continue to impact water resources, the importance of ensuring the safety and effectiveness of structures like the Artic dam becomes increasingly significant for the sustainable management of water 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 Artic -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | → |
| Judith River Nr Mouth | 425 cfs | → |
| Big Sandy Creek Near Havre Mt | 4 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Artic.
Boat launches
- Monroe Island
- Eagle Creek Rec Site
- Lone Tree Coulee
- Coal Banks Landing
- Little Sandy Coulee Rec Site
- Hole In The Wall Rec Site
Campgrounds
- Monroe Island
- Eagle Creek Rec Site
- Lone Tree Coulee
- Coal Banks Landing
- Little Sandy Coulee Rec Site
- Hole In The Wall Rec Site
Fishing spots
Track Artic 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 Artic
Where does the data for Artic 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 Artic.