Nielsen dam
Nielsen
Nielsen is a privately owned irrigation dam located in Rosebud, Montana, along Coal Creek. Constructed in 1973, this earth dam stands at 31 feet high and spans 666 feet in length, with a storage capacity of 80 acre-feet. The dam serves the primary purpose of irrigation, providing vital water resources for agricultural activities in the region. Despite its low hazard potential and current "Not Rated" condition assessment, Nielsen is regulated by the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation (DNRC) and undergoes regular state inspections, permitting, and enforcement to ensure its safety and compliance with regulations.
Situated in Congressional District 00, Montana, Nielsen plays a crucial role in water management and resource allocation in the area. With a maximum discharge capacity of 100 cubic feet per second, the dam serves as a vital infrastructure for maintaining water supply and supporting local agriculture. While the dam's emergency preparedness and risk assessment measures are currently unspecified, its strategic location and operational efficiency contribute to the overall water security and climate resilience of the region. As water resource and climate enthusiasts, understanding the significance of dams like Nielsen is essential for sustainable water management and environmental conservation efforts in Montana and beyond.
As water resource and climate enthusiasts, Nielsen's role as a key irrigation dam in Rosebud, Montana, underscores the importance of effective water infrastructure in supporting agricultural activities and ensuring water security in the region. Managed by a private entity, Nielsen operates within the regulatory framework of the DNRC and undergoes state inspections and enforcement to uphold safety standards. With its low hazard potential and "Not Rated" condition assessment, Nielsen stands as a critical piece of water infrastructure that requires ongoing monitoring and maintenance to safeguard its functionality and protect local communities from potential risks. In the face of changing climate conditions and increasing water scarcity, dams like Nielsen play a vital role in managing water resources and adapting to the challenges posed by climate change.
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 Nielsen -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Yellowstone River At Forsyth Mt | 10,500 cfs | → |
| Tongue River At Miles City Mt | 61 cfs | → |
| Yellowstone River At Miles City Mt | 10,600 cfs | → |
| Pumpkin Creek Near Miles City Mt | 0 cfs | → |
| Tongue R Bl Brandenberg Bridge Nr Ashland Mt | 223 cfs | → |
| Otter Creek At Ashland Mt | 3 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Nielsen.
Track Nielsen 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 Nielsen
Where does the data for Nielsen 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.