Yankee Doodle Tailings Dam dam
Yankee Doodle Tailings Dam
Yankee Doodle Tailings Dam, located in Butte, Montana, stands at an impressive height of 570 feet and stretches over 13,200 feet in length. Completed in 1972, this rockfill dam serves a primary purpose of "Other" and is regulated by the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) in the state. The dam is situated on the Yankee Doodle and Silver Bow Creek, posing a high hazard potential but currently maintaining a satisfactory condition assessment.
Managed by a private owner, Yankee Doodle Tailings Dam is subject to regular state permitting, inspection, and enforcement to ensure its safety and compliance with regulations. The Mine Safety and Health Administration oversees regulatory matters related to the dam, with the last inspection conducted in February 2020. Despite its high hazard potential, the dam's emergency action plan (EAP) status and risk assessment details are not currently available, raising questions about its emergency preparedness and risk management measures.
As a crucial infrastructure in water resource management and climate resiliency efforts, Yankee Doodle Tailings Dam plays a significant role in the region's water storage and flood control capabilities. With its notable height and extensive length, the dam's structural integrity and emergency response readiness are essential aspects to monitor for water resource and climate enthusiasts concerned about the safety and sustainability of this critical infrastructure.
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 Yankee Doodle Tailings Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Blacktail Creek At Butte Mt | 16 cfs | → |
| Silver Bow Cr Bl Blacktail Cr At Butte Mt | 17 cfs | → |
| Silver Bow Creek At Opportunity Mt | 44 cfs | → |
| Willow Creek At Opportunity | 9 cfs | → |
| Mill Creek At Opportunity | 7 cfs | → |
| Silver Bow Creek At Warm Springs Mt | 48 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Yankee Doodle Tailings Dam.
Boat launches
- Jefferson County
- Divide Bridge Boat Ramp
- Maiden Rock Boat Ramp
- Jerry Creek Bridge Boat Ramp
- Dickie Bridge Boat Ramp
- Mt 359 Jefferson County
Campgrounds
- Delmoe Lake
- Delmoe Lake Campground And Picnic Area
- Lowland Campground And Picnic Area
- Lowland
- Freedom Point Campground
- The Lunch Room
Track Yankee Doodle Tailings 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 Yankee Doodle Tailings Dam
Where does the data for Yankee Doodle Tailings 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 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 Yankee Doodle Tailings Dam.