Crazy Sombreo dam
Crazy Sombreo
Crazy Sombreo is a privately owned irrigation dam located in Meagher, Montana, along Spring Creek. Built in 1950 by the USDA NRCS, this Earth type dam stands at 58 feet tall with a hydraulic height of 53 feet and a length of 340 feet. It serves the primary purpose of irrigation, providing a storage capacity of 205 acre-feet and a normal storage of 163 acre-feet. With a surface area of 7.7 acres and a drainage area of 1.5 square miles, the dam has a significant hazard potential and moderate risk assessment.
Managed by the DNRC, Crazy Sombreo has state jurisdiction and regulation, with permitting, inspection, and enforcement in place. The dam features an uncontrolled spillway with a width of 15 feet and is situated in Congressional District 00 of Montana, represented by Greg Gianforte. While the condition assessment is not rated and there are no recent inspection dates available, the dam is considered to have moderate risk management measures in place. With its unique design and historical significance, Crazy Sombreo remains a key feature in the water resource infrastructure of the area, attracting enthusiasts interested in water resource management and climate adaptation.
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 Crazy Sombreo -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| South Fork Musselshell R Ab Martinsdale Mt | 43 cfs | → |
| Musselshell River Nr Martinsdale | 169 cfs | → |
| Musselshell River At Harlowton Mt | 214 cfs | → |
| Boulder River At Big Timber Mt | 859 cfs | → |
| Shields River Nr Livingston Mt | 293 cfs | → |
| Musselshell River Ab Mud Cr Nr Shawmut Mt | 168 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Crazy Sombreo.
Campgrounds
- Crandall Creek Cabin
- Shields River Dispersed Site
- Martinsdale Reservoir Fas
- Porcupine Cabin
- Selkirk Fas
- Halfmoon Campground
Fishing spots
Track Crazy Sombreo 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 Crazy Sombreo
Where does the data for Crazy Sombreo 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 Significant 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 Crazy Sombreo.