Cosmic Nick dam
Cosmic Nick
Cosmic Nick, located in Twin Bridges, Montana, is a privately owned Earth dam completed in 1956 for multiple purposes including fire protection, stock, and small fish pond. With a height of 15 feet and a length of 700 feet, it has a storage capacity of 69 acre-feet and serves the Spring Creek area in Madison County. The dam is regulated and inspected by the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation (DNRC) to ensure its safety and compliance with state regulations.
Despite being classified as having low hazard potential and being in good condition, Cosmic Nick has not been rated for its current condition. Emergency action plans and risk assessments for the dam have not been prepared, indicating a potential area for improvement in terms of safety and readiness for any unforeseen events. Given its importance for fire protection and water storage in the area, continued monitoring and maintenance of Cosmic Nick is essential to prevent any potential risks and ensure its long-term functionality.
With its peaceful location and vital role in providing water resources for the local community, Cosmic Nick stands as a testament to the importance of proper dam management in preserving both water security and environmental safety. Enthusiasts of water resources and climate will find Cosmic Nick to be an intriguing case study in dam regulation and maintenance, highlighting the delicate balance between human needs and environmental stewardship in managing water 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 Cosmic Nick -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Beaverhead River Near Twin Bridges Mt | 102 cfs | → |
| Big Hole River Near Glen Mt | 1,590 cfs | → |
| Beaverhead River At Dillon Mt | 116 cfs | → |
| Ruby River Near Twin Bridges Mt | 31 cfs | → |
| Ruby River Ab Reservoir Nr Alder Mt | 133 cfs | → |
| Ruby River Bl Reservoir Nr Alder Mt | 345 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Cosmic Nick.
Campgrounds
Fishing spots
More reservoirs
Track Cosmic Nick 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 Cosmic Nick
Where does the data for Cosmic Nick 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 Cosmic Nick.