Square Butte Creek Dam 4 dam
Square Butte Creek Dam 4
Square Butte Creek Dam 4, also known as Square Butte #4, is a vital earth dam located in Oliver, North Dakota, designed by the USDA NRCS and completed in 1974. The dam serves a primary purpose of flood risk reduction along Hagel Creek, with a structural height of 49 feet and a length of 1396 feet. Its reservoir has a normal storage capacity of 380 acre-feet and a total storage of 6544.6 acre-feet, covering a surface area of 70 acres and draining a 28 square-mile watershed.
Managed by local government authorities and regulated by the NDSWC, Square Butte Creek Dam 4 is recognized as having a significant hazard potential and a moderate risk level. Although its condition assessment is currently not rated, the dam undergoes regular state inspections and is equipped with a single valve outlet gate. With its uncontrolled spillway and stone core foundation, the dam plays a crucial role in protecting the surrounding areas from potential flooding events, showcasing the importance of sustainable water resource management strategies in the face of changing climate conditions.
As part of the flood risk reduction infrastructure in North Dakota, Square Butte Creek Dam 4 highlights the collaborative efforts between federal agencies and local authorities in safeguarding communities against natural disasters. With its strategic location on Hagel Creek and its significant storage capacity, the dam stands as a testament to the ongoing commitment to enhancing water resource resilience and climate adaptation in the region. Despite its age, the dam continues to serve its purpose effectively, demonstrating the critical role of infrastructure in mitigating the impacts of extreme weather events and ensuring the long-term sustainability of water resources.
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 Square Butte Creek Dam 4 -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Square Butte Creek Below Center | 2 cfs | → |
| Sweetbriar Creek Nr Judson | 2 cfs | → |
| Heart River Nr Mandan | 82 cfs | → |
| Knife River At Hazen | 49 cfs | → |
| Heart River At Stark Bridge Nr Judson | 73 cfs | → |
| Burnt Creek Nr Bismarck | 5 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Square Butte Creek Dam 4.
Boat launches
- 35th Avenue Southwest Oliver County
- Oliver County
- State Highway 200 Alternate Oliver County
- I 94 Mandan
- River Road Oliver County
- State Highway 200 Alternate Mercer County
Campgrounds
- Sweetbriar Lake-Northwest Ramp - Nd Gfd
- Sweet Briar Lake
- Sweetbriar Lake - Southeast Ramp - Nd Gfd
- North City Park
- Crown Butte Dam
Paddle runs
Track Square Butte Creek Dam 4 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 Square Butte Creek Dam 4
Where does the data for Square Butte Creek Dam 4 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 Significant 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 Square Butte Creek Dam 4.