Snafu dam
Snafu
Snafu, also known as Middle Sand Coulee, is a federal-owned dam located in Park County, Wyoming, near Belfry, Montana. Built in 1967, this earth dam stands at a height of 40 feet and serves multiple purposes including water supply, recreation, and other activities. The dam holds a storage capacity of 48 acre-feet and is regulated by the State Engineer's Office in Wyoming.
Despite its low hazard potential, Snafu has been assessed to be in poor condition, with a moderate risk level. The dam has a history of poor maintenance and its last inspection in June 2019 revealed deficiencies that need attention. With a drainage area and maximum discharge capacity of 289 cfs, the dam poses a potential risk that requires proper risk management measures to be implemented.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Snafu provides an intriguing case study of a federally-owned dam in need of maintenance and risk assessment. With its location along the Big Sand Coulee Creek and the surrounding recreational and water supply uses, the future of Snafu's structural integrity and safety measures will be of interest to those passionate about water resource management and climate resilience.
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 Snafu -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Clarks Fork Yellowstone River Nr Belfry Mt | 5,570 cfs | → |
| Shoshone River Below Buffalo Bill Reservoir | 315 cfs | → |
| Shoshone River Near Lovell | 371 cfs | → |
| Rock Creek Near Red Lodge Mt | 443 cfs | → |
| South Fork Shoshone River Ab Buffalo Bill Res | 1,250 cfs | → |
| North Fork Shoshone River At Wapiti | 3,750 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Snafu.
Boat launches
- Luce Reservoir Boat Launch
- Hogan Reservoir Boat Launch
- Clarks Fork Boat Launch
- Andy Martin Hill Boat Ramp
- Beartooth High Lakes Trail Wyoming
- North Fork Shoshone River Boat Ramp
Campgrounds
- Homesteader Park
- Hogan And Luce Campground
- Hogan And Luce Campsite 1
- Hogan And Luce Campsite 2
- Hogan And Luce Campsite 3
- Hogan And Luce Campsite 4
Track Snafu 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 Snafu
Where does the data for Snafu 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 Snafu.