Moulton Creek Dam #1 dam
Moulton Creek Dam #1
Moulton Creek Dam #1, located in Butte, Montana, was completed in 1907 and serves as a critical water supply structure for the area. The dam, primarily owned by the local government, stands at a height of 67 feet and has a storage capacity of 860 acre-feet. Situated on Yankee Doodle Creek, the dam plays a vital role in providing water to the surrounding community, with a normal storage capacity of 686 acre-feet and a maximum discharge of 1370 cubic feet per second.
Despite its important role in water supply, Moulton Creek Dam #1 poses a high hazard potential and has been assessed to be in poor condition as of March 2021. The dam is subject to regular inspections, with the last inspection conducted in May 2020 and scheduled at a frequency of every 5 years. While the dam is state regulated and permitted, with enforcement and inspection measures in place, its condition and hazard potential highlight the need for ongoing monitoring and potential risk management measures to ensure the safety and stability of the structure and its surrounding area.
As water resource and climate enthusiasts, the data on Moulton Creek Dam #1 underscores the importance of maintaining and safeguarding critical infrastructure for water supply in the face of potential hazards and changing environmental conditions. The dam serves as a reminder of the essential role these structures play in supporting communities and the need for continued vigilance and investment in their upkeep to ensure the resilience and sustainability of water resources in the region.
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 Moulton Creek Dam #1 -- 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 | → |
| Silver Bow Creek At Warm Springs Mt | 48 cfs | → |
| Willow Creek At Opportunity | 9 cfs | → |
| Warm Springs Creek At Warm Springs Mt | 59 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Moulton Creek Dam #1.
Boat launches
Campgrounds
- Lowland Campground And Picnic Area
- Lowland
- Freedom Point Campground
- Delmoe Lake
- Delmoe Lake Campground And Picnic Area
- Whitehouse
Fishing spots
- Delmoe Lake
- Eagles Nest Day Use Area
- Bison Creek
- Little Boulder River
- Little Whitetail Creek
- Little Pipestone Creek
Track Moulton Creek Dam #1 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 Moulton Creek Dam #1
Where does the data for Moulton Creek Dam #1 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 Moulton Creek Dam #1.