Circle Reservoir dam
Circle Reservoir
Circle Reservoir, located in Dawson County, Montana, serves multiple important purposes including fire protection, stock watering, and as a small fish pond. The earth dam, standing at 15 feet in height and 100 feet in length, was completed in 1950 and has a storage capacity of 93 acre-feet. The reservoir is situated along Sullivan Creek and is owned by a private entity, with state regulatory oversight by the Department of Natural Resources and Conservation (DNRC).
Despite its low hazard potential, Circle Reservoir plays a crucial role in the local ecosystem, providing essential water resources for both wildlife and agricultural activities in the area. The reservoir's location in Poplar, Montana, makes it a key feature in the region's water management infrastructure. While the dam's condition is currently rated as "Not Rated," its importance for the community underscores the need for regular inspections and maintenance to ensure its long-term functionality and safety.
As climate change continues to impact water resources and availability, maintaining and properly managing reservoirs like Circle Reservoir becomes increasingly vital. With its capacity to support various uses and its significance in the local landscape, Circle Reservoir stands as a testament to the importance of sustainable water resource management in the face of changing environmental 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 Circle Reservoir -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Redwater River At Circle Mt | 14 cfs | → |
| Yellowstone River At Glendive Mt | 9,690 cfs | → |
| Missouri River Near Wolf Point Mt | 6,880 cfs | → |
| Poplar River Near Poplar Mt | 32 cfs | → |
| Nelson Creek Near Van Norman Mt | 0 cfs | → |
| Yellowstone River Near Sidney Mt | 9,480 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Circle Reservoir.
Track Circle Reservoir 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 Circle Reservoir
Where does the data for Circle Reservoir 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 Circle Reservoir.