Newlan Creek Dam dam
Newlan Creek Dam
Newlan Creek Dam, located in Meagher, Montana, is a critical structure managed by the USDA NRCS for irrigation purposes along the Newlan Creek. Completed in 1977, this earth dam stands at 112 feet high and has a storage capacity of 15,600 acre-feet, serving a drainage area of 43.4 square miles. Despite its importance for irrigation, the dam is categorized as having a high hazard potential and poor condition assessment, with a risk level of moderate (3).
The dam's spillway, which is uncontrolled, has a width of 65 feet and a maximum discharge capacity of 4,260 cubic feet per second. The last inspection conducted in June 2021 revealed the need for improvements, highlighting the urgency for maintenance and risk management measures. With the primary purpose of irrigation, Newlan Creek Dam plays a crucial role in water resource management in the region, but its deteriorating condition underscores the importance of ongoing monitoring and maintenance to ensure the safety and sustainability of the structure for both agricultural and environmental purposes.
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 Newlan Creek Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Smith River Near Ft Logan Mt | 201 cfs | → |
| Smith River Bl Eagle Cr Nr Fort Logan Mt | 383 cfs | → |
| South Fork Musselshell R Ab Martinsdale Mt | 43 cfs | → |
| Musselshell River Nr Martinsdale | 169 cfs | → |
| Belt Creek Near Monarch Mt | 269 cfs | → |
| Missouri River At Toston Mt | 5,260 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Newlan Creek Dam.
Campgrounds
- Newlan Creek Reservoir Fas
- Grasshopper Campground
- Grasshopper
- Jumping Creek
- Jumping Creek Campground
- Richardson Campground
Fishing spots
- Newlan Reservoir
- Newlan Creek
- North Fork Smith River
- Jumping Creek
- Sheep Creek (Smith Drainage)
- North Fork Musselshell River
Paddle runs
- Camp Baker To Eden Bridge
- Falls, Sec. 25, T14n, R4e To Smith River, Sec. 25, T14n, R3e
- Arch Coulee Junction, Sec. 32, T13n, R11e To Forest Boundary, Sec. 35, T13n, R11e
- Tenderfoot Creek, Sec. 30, T14n, R4e To Deep Creek, Sec. 31, T16n, R4e
- Missouri River
- Town Of Nelson, Sec. 12, T12n, R2w To Missouri River, Sec. 19, T12n, R2w
Track Newlan Creek 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 Newlan Creek Dam
Where does the data for Newlan Creek 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 High 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 Newlan Creek Dam.