Hushka Dam; Niles dam
Hushka Dam; Niles
Hushka Dam in Niles, North Dakota, completed in 2015, is a private-owned Earth dam primarily designed for fire protection, stock, or small fish pond purposes. Managed by the North Dakota State Water Commission, the dam stands at a height of 23.9 feet and has a length of 196 feet, with a storage capacity of 178 acre-feet. Situated on Square Butte Creek-TR, the dam plays a crucial role in regulating water flow and providing essential water resources for the region.
With a surface area of 14.9 acres and a drainage area of 0.92 square miles, Hushka Dam serves as a vital infrastructure for water management in Morton County, North Dakota. The spillway, uncontrolled in design, has a width of 60 feet, ensuring the safe release of excess water during heavy rainfall or flooding events. While the dam's hazard potential remains undetermined, its risk assessment is moderate, highlighting the importance of ongoing monitoring and maintenance to ensure its structural integrity and functionality for the community.
As a key component of the local water resource infrastructure, Hushka Dam plays a significant role in supporting fire protection efforts, livestock watering, and small fish pond activities. With its strategic location and design, the dam not only enhances the region's water storage capacity but also contributes to environmental conservation and sustainable water management practices. As climate change continues to impact water resources, the presence of well-maintained dams like Hushka Dam is essential for mitigating risks and ensuring a reliable water supply for future generations.
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 Hushka Dam; Niles -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Square Butte Creek Below Center | 1 cfs | → |
| Heart River Nr Mandan | 70 cfs | → |
| Burnt Creek Nr Bismarck | 1 cfs | → |
| Sweetbriar Creek Nr Judson | 2 cfs | → |
| Missouri River At Bismarck | 17,400 cfs | → |
| Hay Creek At Main Avenue In Bismarck | 3 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Hushka Dam; Niles.
Track Hushka Dam; Niles 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 Hushka Dam; Niles
Where does the data for Hushka Dam; Niles 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 Undetermined 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 Hushka Dam; Niles.