Marstaeller Irrigation Dam dam
Marstaeller Irrigation Dam
Marstaeller Irrigation Dam is a vital infrastructure in Sweet Grass, Montana, serving the agricultural community by providing water from Tony (Pruett) Creek for irrigation purposes. Built in 1984, this earth dam stands at a height of 39 feet and stretches 480 feet in length, with a storage capacity of 270 acre-feet. Managed by a private owner, the dam is regulated by the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation (DNRC), ensuring its safety and compliance with state standards.
Located in Lavina, the Marstaeller Irrigation Dam plays a crucial role in supporting local farmers and sustaining the surrounding ecosystem. With a low hazard potential and a condition assessment of "Not Rated," the dam has not undergone recent inspections but is maintained to meet state requirements. While the dam currently does not have emergency action plans or inundation maps prepared, its operational efficiency and safety are continuously monitored to mitigate risks and ensure its resilience in the face of changing climate patterns.
As climate change continues to impact water resources, Marstaeller Irrigation Dam stands as a testament to the importance of sustainable water management practices. With a focus on irrigation and supporting agricultural activities, the dam serves as a lifeline for the community, highlighting the critical role of infrastructure in adapting to environmental challenges and ensuring water security for future generations.
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 Marstaeller Irrigation Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Musselshell River Ab Mud Cr Nr Shawmut Mt | 157 cfs | → |
| Musselshell River At Harlowton Mt | 170 cfs | → |
| Boulder River At Big Timber Mt | 757 cfs | → |
| Musselshell River Nr Martinsdale | 149 cfs | → |
| South Fork Musselshell R Ab Martinsdale Mt | 43 cfs | → |
| Shields River Nr Livingston Mt | 252 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Marstaeller Irrigation Dam.
Boat launches
Campgrounds
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
Track Marstaeller Irrigation Dam 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 Marstaeller Irrigation Dam
Where does the data for Marstaeller Irrigation Dam 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 Marstaeller Irrigation Dam.