Gerald Kane dam
Gerald Kane
Gerald Kane is a private-owned irrigation dam located in the picturesque city of Big Sandy, Montana. Constructed in 1965 by the USDA NRCS, this Earth dam stands at a height of 39 feet and has a length of 549 feet, providing vital irrigation water for the surrounding area. Situated on the banks of Sand Creek, this dam is regulated by the state agency DNRC and is inspected, permitted, and enforced by state authorities, ensuring its structural integrity and compliance with regulations.
With a storage capacity of 239 acre-feet and a drainage area of 2.03 square miles, Gerald Kane plays a crucial role in water resource management in the region. The dam has a maximum discharge capacity of 660 cfs and a spillway width of 25 feet, making it a significant structure in terms of hazard potential. Although the condition assessment is currently not rated, the dam remains a key asset for agricultural activities in the area, highlighting the importance of sustainable water management practices and infrastructure maintenance in the face of changing climate patterns.
As water resource and climate enthusiasts continue to monitor the impact of climate change on water availability and infrastructure resilience, structures like Gerald Kane serve as essential components of the water supply system. With its state-regulated status and primary purpose of irrigation, this Earth dam represents a vital piece of the water management puzzle in Montana. As efforts to address climate-related challenges intensify, the role of dams like Gerald Kane in ensuring water security and sustainability will become increasingly crucial in the years to come.
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 Gerald Kane -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Judith River Nr Mouth | 425 cfs | → |
| Missouri River At Virgelle Mt | 7,010 cfs | → |
| Big Sandy Creek Near Havre Mt | 4 cfs | → |
| Milk River At Havre Mt | 981 cfs | → |
| Clear Creek Near Chinook Mt | 6 cfs | → |
| Peoples Creek Near Hays Mt | 4 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Gerald Kane.
Boat launches
Campgrounds
- Hill County Beaver Creek Park
- Greasewood Bottom
- Judith Landing
- Mcgarry Bar
- Stafford Ferry
- Beaver Creek County Park
Fishing spots
More reservoirs
Track Gerald Kane 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 Gerald Kane
Where does the data for Gerald Kane 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 Significant 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 Gerald Kane.