Gull Wing Detention Dam dam
Gull Wing Detention Dam
Gull Wing Detention Dam, located in Fort Peck, Montana, was completed in 1968 by the Bureau of Land Management to serve as a vital flood risk reduction structure along the Seven Mile Creek/Missouri River. This gravity dam stands at a structural height of 27 feet and a hydraulic height of 22 feet, with a length of 1084 feet and a storage capacity of 476.38 acre-feet. The dam's primary purpose is to mitigate flood risks in the region, making it a crucial piece of infrastructure for water resource management in Phillips County.
Despite its low hazard potential, Gull Wing Detention Dam currently holds an unsatisfactory condition assessment, indicating the need for potential maintenance and improvements. The dam is under the ownership, funding, design, construction, regulation, inspection, and operation of the Bureau of Land Management, highlighting the federal government's role in managing water resources and ensuring public safety. With its strategic location and design features, the dam plays a significant role in protecting the local community from the impacts of flooding and managing water flow in the region.
As a key component of flood risk reduction efforts in Montana, Gull Wing Detention Dam is essential for safeguarding nearby communities and infrastructure from potential water-related disasters. With its moderate risk assessment rating and periodic inspections, there is a continuous need for monitoring and maintenance to ensure the dam's effectiveness in the face of changing climate conditions. The dam's presence underscores the importance of proactive water resource management and climate adaptation strategies in mitigating risks and protecting the environment and public safety.
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 Gull Wing Detention Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Missouri River Near Landusky Mt | 8,330 cfs | → |
| Peoples Creek Near Hays Mt | 3 cfs | → |
| Milk River Near Dodson Mt | 17 cfs | → |
| Milk River At Malta Mt | 56 cfs | → |
| Milk River Near Harlem Mt | 572 cfs | → |
| Judith River Nr Mouth | 416 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Gull Wing Detention Dam.
Boat launches
- James Kipp Boat Ramp
- James Kipp Recreation Area
- Hideaway Recreation Area
- Woodhawk (Upper)
- Homestead - Gus Nelson
- Woodhawk (Middle)
Track Gull Wing Detention Dam 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 Gull Wing Detention Dam
Where does the data for Gull Wing Detention Dam 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 Gull Wing Detention Dam.