Yellow Water Main Dam dam
Yellow Water Main Dam
Yellow Water Main Dam, located on Yellow Water Creek in Petroleum County, Montana, was completed in 1938 for the primary purpose of irrigation. This rockfill dam stands at a height of 37 feet and has a storage capacity of 6695 acre-feet, with a normal storage level of 3835 acre-feet. The dam covers a surface area of 490 acres and serves a drainage area of 55 square miles, with a maximum discharge capacity of 3900 cubic feet per second.
Managed by the state agency DNRC, Yellow Water Main Dam is classified as a high hazard structure with a satisfactory condition assessment. The dam has a controlled spillway type and undergoes regular inspections with an inspection frequency of every 5 years. In case of emergencies, the dam's Emergency Action Plan is periodically reviewed and updated to meet safety guidelines. Despite its high risk assessment, the dam is crucial for providing irrigation water to the surrounding agricultural lands in Mosby, Montana.
Enthusiasts of water resources and climate will appreciate the historical significance and engineering marvel of Yellow Water Main Dam. Its strategic location on Yellow Water Creek supports the local agricultural community while also posing challenges in terms of potential hazards and risk management. As one of the key infrastructure projects in Montana, this dam serves as a vital water resource for sustaining the region's ecosystem and economy, highlighting the intricate balance between water management and environmental conservation in the face of changing climate conditions.
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 Yellow Water Main Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Flatwillow Creek Near Mosby Mt | 11 cfs | → |
| Musselshell River At Mosby Mt | 135 cfs | → |
| Musselshell River At Musselshell Mt | 180 cfs | → |
| Musselshell River Near Roundup Mt | 292 cfs | → |
| Missouri River Near Landusky Mt | 7,380 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Yellow Water Main Dam.
Track Yellow Water Main 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 Yellow Water Main Dam
Where does the data for Yellow Water Main 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 Yellow Water Main Dam.