Decameter dam
Decameter
Decameter, located in Conrad, Montana, is a private dam with a primary purpose of providing fire protection, stock watering, and serving as a small fish pond. Built in 1960, this earth dam stands at a height of 20 meters and has a length of 500 meters. The dam has a storage capacity of 51 acre-feet, with a normal storage level of 26 acre-feet. It is regulated by the DNRC and falls under the jurisdiction of the state of Montana, with regular inspections and enforcement ensuring its safety and compliance.
Situated on Woods Coulee, Decameter serves as a crucial water resource for the surrounding area, with a low hazard potential but not yet rated for its condition assessment. Despite its age, the dam continues to fulfill its primary purposes effectively and is a vital asset for fire protection and livestock watering in the region. The dam's location in Teton County, Montana, highlights its importance in the local water infrastructure and its contribution to the overall water management in the area.
As a key feature in the water management system of Montana, Decameter plays a significant role in ensuring water availability for fire protection, stock watering, and recreational use. While the dam has not been rated for its condition assessment and lacks certain emergency preparedness measures, its low hazard potential and regular inspections provide confidence in its structural integrity. With a storage capacity of 51 acre-feet and a strategic location in Conrad, Decameter continues to be a valuable resource for the community and a testament to effective water management practices in the state.
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 Decameter -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Teton River Bl South Fork Nr Choteau Mt | 210 cfs | → |
| Badger Cr Bl Four Horns Canal Nr Browning Mt | 318 cfs | → |
| Two Medicine River Bl South Fork Nr Browning Mt | 632 cfs | → |
| Sun River Bl Diversion Dam Nr Augusta Mt | 1,420 cfs | → |
| North Fork Sun River Near Augusta Mt | 665 cfs | → |
| South Fork Sun River Near Augusta Mt | 746 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Decameter.
Campgrounds
- Swift Dam
- West Fork Cabin
- West Fork Teton Campground
- Elko Campground
- Cave Mountain
- Cave Mountain Campground
Fishing spots
- Davis Lake
- Sun River Slope Canal
- Spotted Bear Compound Day Use Site Fishing Site
- Duck Creek
- Dry Creek-Krezelok Reservoir
- Big Salmon Creek
Paddle runs
- Headwaters, Sec. 34, T28n, R11w To Swift Reservoir
- Pool Creek, Sec. 7, T28n, R12w To Falls, Sec. 25, T29n, R12w
- Schafer Meadows To Bear Creek (Upper)
- Fool Creek, Sec. 24, T25n, R11w To Wilderness Boundary
- 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
Track Decameter 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 Decameter
Where does the data for Decameter 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 Decameter.