Square Butte Creek Dam 5 dam
Square Butte Creek Dam 5
Square Butte Creek Dam 5, also known as Schwalbe Dam, is a local government-owned structure located in Oliver County, North Dakota. Built in 1979 by the USDA NRCS, this earth dam stands at a height of 65 feet and has a structural height of 71 feet, with a length of 1770 feet. The dam's primary purpose is flood risk reduction, serving to protect the surrounding area from potential flooding events along Square Butte Creek.
With a storage capacity of 5800 acre-feet and a normal storage level of 494.7 acre-feet, Square Butte Creek Dam 5 plays a crucial role in managing water resources in the region. The dam's spillway, classified as uncontrolled, has a width of 300 feet to safely release excess water during high flow periods. Despite being assessed as in fair condition, the dam poses a high hazard potential, emphasizing the importance of regular inspections and maintenance to ensure its continued effectiveness in flood risk reduction.
Overall, Square Butte Creek Dam 5 is a key infrastructure for water resource management and flood protection in Oliver County, North Dakota. With its strategic location along Square Butte Creek and the dedication of the NDSWC in regulating and inspecting the dam, this structure serves as a critical asset for the community in mitigating flood risks and safeguarding the surrounding area from potential inundation events.
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 5 -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Square Butte Creek Below Center | 1 cfs | → |
| Sweetbriar Creek Nr Judson | 3 cfs | → |
| Heart River Nr Mandan | 116 cfs | → |
| Burnt Creek Nr Bismarck | 2 cfs | → |
| Missouri River At Bismarck | 14,000 cfs | → |
| Heart River At Stark Bridge Nr Judson | 93 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Square Butte Creek Dam 5.
Track Square Butte Creek Dam 5 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 5
Where does the data for Square Butte Creek Dam 5 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 Square Butte Creek Dam 5.