Puppie Tail dam
Puppie Tail
Puppie Tail is a private irrigation dam located in Fergus County, Montana, along the TR-BREED CREEK. Built in 1963 by the USDA NRCS, this Earth-type dam stands at a height of 32 feet and has a storage capacity of 59 acre-feet. With a low hazard potential and a condition assessment of "Not Rated," Puppie Tail serves as a vital water resource for agricultural activities in the area.
Managed by the DNRC and regulated by the state of Montana, Puppie Tail plays a crucial role in water management and irrigation within the region. Its location in the Omaha District and under Congressional District 00, Montana, underscores its significance in providing water for the surrounding farmlands. Despite not being rated for its condition, the dam's low hazard potential suggests that it is well-maintained and poses minimal risk to the community.
With a spillway width of 150 feet and a maximum discharge capacity of 765 cubic feet per second, Puppie Tail is equipped to handle potential flood events and ensure the safety of downstream areas. While its emergency action plan status and risk assessment details are not specified, the dam's existence underscores the importance of sustainable water resource management in the face of changing climate conditions. As a key infrastructure for irrigation purposes, Puppie Tail stands as a testament to the collaborative efforts between federal agencies, state regulators, and private owners in safeguarding water resources for future generations.
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 Puppie Tail -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Judith River Nr Mouth | 390 cfs | → |
| Missouri River Near Landusky Mt | 6,360 cfs | → |
| Musselshell River At Harlowton Mt | 176 cfs | → |
| Musselshell River Ab Mud Cr Nr Shawmut Mt | 60 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Puppie Tail.
Campgrounds
- Kiwanis Park - Lewiston
- East Fork Reservoir Campground
- Crystal Lake Campground
- Crystal Lake
- Crystal Lake Cabin
- Timber Creek Dispersed Campground
Fishing spots
- Upper Carters Pond
- Lower Hansen Reservoir
- Mccartney Creek
- East Fork Cottonwood Creek
- Warm Spring Creek
- Sage Creek (Judith Drainage)
Paddle runs
Track Puppie Tail 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 Puppie Tail
Where does the data for Puppie Tail 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 Puppie Tail.