Higgins Brothers #1 dam
Higgins Brothers #1
Higgins Brothers #1 is a privately owned irrigation dam located on Sixteenmile Creek in Ringling, Montana. Designed by the USDA NRCS and completed in 1936, this earth dam stands at 15 feet high with a hydraulic height of 12 feet and a length of 900 feet. With a storage capacity of 860 acre-feet and a normal storage level of 408 acre-feet, the dam serves the primary purpose of irrigation in the area.
Despite being regulated by the DNRC and meeting state inspection and enforcement requirements, Higgins Brothers #1 is classified as having low hazard potential and is currently rated as "Not Rated" in terms of condition assessment. The last known inspection of the dam took place in May 1979. Although not operated by a federal agency, the dam has been maintained for over 80 years to ensure its structural integrity and functionality for agricultural water supply in the region.
Enthusiasts interested in water resource management and climate impact in Montana may find Higgins Brothers #1 to be a fascinating case study of a historic irrigation dam that continues to play a vital role in sustaining local agriculture. As a key piece of infrastructure on Sixteenmile Creek, this dam showcases the importance of proper design, maintenance, and regulation to ensure the safety and reliability of water resources in the region.
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 Higgins Brothers #1 -- 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 | 81 cfs | → |
| Missouri River At Toston Mt | 3,400 cfs | → |
| Shields River Nr Livingston Mt | 136 cfs | → |
| Smith River Near Ft Logan Mt | 143 cfs | → |
| Smith River Bl Eagle Cr Nr Fort Logan Mt | 256 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Higgins Brothers #1.
Campgrounds
- Richardson Campground
- Grasshopper
- Grasshopper Campground
- Crandall Creek Cabin
- Shields River Dispersed Site
- Skidway
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- Camp Baker To Eden Bridge
- Arch Coulee Junction, Sec. 32, T13n, R11e To Forest Boundary, Sec. 35, T13n, R11e
- Falls, Sec. 25, T14n, R4e To Smith River, Sec. 25, T14n, R3e
More reservoirs
Track Higgins Brothers #1 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 Higgins Brothers #1
Where does the data for Higgins Brothers #1 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 Higgins Brothers #1.