Black Eagle dam
Black Eagle
Black Eagle, a privately owned hydroelectric dam located on the Missouri River in Fort Benton, Montana, was completed in 1891 and stands at a height of 35 feet. With a primary purpose of generating hydroelectric power, the dam also serves recreational purposes, covering a surface area of 402 acres and holding a normal storage capacity of 1710 acre-feet. The dam boasts a controlled spillway with a width of 625 feet and a maximum discharge rate of 94,000 cubic feet per second, making it a crucial structure in managing water resources in the area.
Despite its age, Black Eagle remains a vital component of the local water infrastructure, with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission overseeing its operations and inspections. The dam's hazard potential is classified as high, with a very high risk assessment score of 1, highlighting the importance of proper risk management measures. While the condition assessment of the dam is currently not available, regular inspections and emergency action plans are essential to ensure the safety and functionality of this historic gravity dam for both water resource management and energy production in the region.
Situated in the picturesque Cascade County, Black Eagle Dam stands as a testament to the intersection of water resource management, hydroelectric power generation, and recreational activities along the Missouri River. With its impressive structural height of 40.5 feet and long dam length of 1670 feet, the dam continues to play a significant role in the local community. As climate change poses challenges to water resources, the maintenance and monitoring of dams like Black Eagle are crucial for adapting to shifting environmental conditions and ensuring sustainable water management practices 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 Black Eagle -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Missouri River Near Ulm Mt | 4,040 cfs | → |
| Missouri River Near Great Falls Mt | 5,620 cfs | → |
| Sun River Near Vaughn Mt | 1,120 cfs | → |
| Muddy Creek At Vaughn Mt | 87 cfs | → |
| Lake Creek Near Power Mt | 30 cfs | → |
| Smith River Near Eden Mt | 434 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Black Eagle.
Boat launches
Campgrounds
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- Tenderfoot Creek, Sec. 30, T14n, R4e To Deep Creek, Sec. 31, T16n, R4e
- Falls, Sec. 25, T14n, R4e To Smith River, Sec. 25, T14n, R3e
- Marias River
- Camp Baker To Eden Bridge
More reservoirs
Track Black Eagle 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 Black Eagle
Where does the data for Black Eagle 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 High 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 Black Eagle.