Bar Island Detention Dam dam
Bar Island Detention Dam
Bar Island Detention Dam, located in Phillips County, Montana, serves as a crucial flood risk reduction structure along the Rock Creek and Missouri River. Constructed in 1967 by the Bureau of Land Management, this gravity dam stands at a structural height of 44 feet and has a hydraulic height of 37 feet. With a storage capacity of 484.38 acre-feet and a surface area of 27.6 acres, the dam plays a significant role in managing water flow and mitigating potential flood hazards in the region.
Despite its importance in safeguarding the surrounding areas from flooding, Bar Island Detention Dam is rated as having a low hazard potential with a poor condition assessment. The dam, primarily funded, designed, and regulated by the Bureau of Land Management, is in need of inspection and maintenance to ensure its continued effectiveness in flood risk reduction. With a moderate risk assessment rating, it is imperative that necessary risk management measures be implemented to uphold the dam's structural integrity and functionality for the protection of the local community and environment.
As water resource and climate enthusiasts monitor the state of Bar Island Detention Dam, it is crucial for federal agencies and stakeholders to prioritize its inspection and maintenance. By addressing the dam's condition and implementing appropriate risk management measures, the structure can continue to play a vital role in flood risk reduction for Phillips County and the surrounding areas along the Rock Creek and Missouri River. The collaboration between the Bureau of Land Management and other relevant agencies is essential in ensuring the long-term resilience of this important water infrastructure.
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 Bar Island Detention Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Missouri River Near Landusky Mt | 7,380 cfs | → |
| Peoples Creek Near Hays Mt | 3 cfs | → |
| Milk River Near Dodson Mt | 18 cfs | → |
| Judith River Nr Mouth | 434 cfs | → |
| Milk River Near Harlem Mt | 547 cfs | → |
| Milk River At Malta Mt | 43 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Bar Island Detention Dam.
Boat launches
- James Kipp Boat Ramp
- James Kipp Recreation Area
- Hideaway Recreation Area
- Woodhawk (Upper)
- Woodhawk (Middle)
- Homestead - Gus Nelson
Track Bar Island Detention 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 Bar Island Detention Dam
Where does the data for Bar Island Detention 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 Bar Island Detention Dam.