W B Black dam
W B Black
W B Black, located in Malta, Montana, is a private earth dam completed in 1930 with a primary purpose of providing fire protection, stock, or a small fish pond. The dam has a height of 10 feet and a length of 200 feet, with a storage capacity of 67 acre-feet. Situated on Halfway Coulee, this structure is regulated by the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation (DNRC) and is inspected, permitted, and enforced by the state agency. Despite its low hazard potential, the condition of W B Black is currently not rated, and there is no available information on emergency action plans or risk assessment.
Water resource and climate enthusiasts will be intrigued by W B Black's historical significance as a fire protection and irrigation structure in Phillips County, Montana. The dam, owned by a private entity, serves multiple purposes, including supporting livestock and providing water for small-scale fisheries. The site lies within Congressional District 00, represented by Greg Gianforte (R), and is under the jurisdiction of the Omaha District of the US Army Corps of Engineers. With a capacity of 67 acre-feet and a drainage area associated with Halfway Coulee, W B Black plays a vital role in managing water resources in the region.
Although W B Black has a low hazard potential, its current condition assessment and emergency preparedness are not rated or documented, raising questions about its long-term safety and maintenance. The dam, with its earth construction and limited height, presents an interesting case study for water resource management and climate resilience. As climate change impacts water availability and infrastructure integrity, understanding the state of structures like W B Black is crucial for ensuring the sustainable use of water resources in Montana and beyond.
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 W B Black -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Milk River At Malta Mt | 31 cfs | → |
| Milk River Near Dodson Mt | 18 cfs | → |
| Beaver Cr Bl Guston Coulee Nr Saco Mt | 67 cfs | → |
| Peoples Creek Near Hays Mt | 1 cfs | → |
| Milk River Near Harlem Mt | 547 cfs | → |
| Beaver Creek Near Hinsdale Mt | 31 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near W B Black.
Track W B Black 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 W B Black
Where does the data for W B Black 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 W B Black.