Hook #50 dam
Hook #50
Hook #50, located in Rosebud County, Montana, is a privately owned earth dam completed in 1958 with a primary purpose of providing fire protection, stock watering, and serving as a small fish pond. This structure on the SAND BUTTE COULEE river stands at 18 feet high and stretches 320 feet in length, offering a storage capacity of 56 acre-feet. Despite its low hazard potential, this dam is regulated by the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation (DNRC), ensuring regular inspections, permitting, and enforcement to maintain its integrity and safety.
With its serene location in the heart of Montana, Hook #50 serves as a vital resource for local wildlife and agriculture, showcasing the harmonious relationship between human development and natural ecosystems. The dam's strategic placement along the SAND BUTTE COULEE river not only provides essential water storage for fire prevention and livestock watering but also contributes to the conservation of small fish populations. Additionally, the dam's minimal risk assessment and low hazard potential reflect the careful design and maintenance practices that prioritize safety and environmental sustainability.
As a key component of the local water infrastructure, Hook #50 embodies the intersection of human needs and ecological stewardship, embodying the principles of responsible water resource management. Its historical significance as a fire protection measure and stock watering source underscores the importance of balancing human activities with environmental protection. With regular oversight and regulation by the DNRC, this earth dam continues to play a crucial role in sustaining the delicate ecological balance of the surrounding Rosebud County landscape.
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 Hook #50 -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Yellowstone River At Forsyth Mt | 10,500 cfs | → |
| Yellowstone River At Miles City Mt | 10,600 cfs | → |
| Tongue River At Miles City Mt | 61 cfs | → |
| Pumpkin Creek Near Miles City Mt | 0 cfs | → |
| Tongue R Bl Brandenberg Bridge Nr Ashland Mt | 223 cfs | → |
| Powder River Near Locate Mt | 17 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Hook #50.
More reservoirs
Track Hook #50 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 Hook #50
Where does the data for Hook #50 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.