bjjjfvv
Madison County Montana Emergency Information
updated twice daily (regularly during a significant county emergency)
Boodles and Rockin R Bar - before explosion
Twin Bridges MT
Madison County Weather Synopsis for July 10th
Today: A mix of clouds and sun. High 78F. Winds NW at 5 to 10 mph.
Tonight: Mainly clear skies. Low 44F. Winds E at 5 to 10 mph.
Tomorrow: Mostly sunny skies. High 86F. Winds light and variable.
Tomorrow night: A few clouds from time to time. Low 52F. Winds ESE at 5 to 10 mph.
Sunday: Partly cloudy. Highs in the low 80s and lows in the low 50s.
Monday: A few thunderstorms possible. Highs in the mid 60s and lows in the low 40s.
Tailing Pond - Hwy 287 Alder Montana - April 21, 2009
Horses near the highway - Virginia City area
VIRGINIA CITY CHILDRENS FISHING POND and CREEK IS CLOSED
The Childrens Fishing Pond and creek area below the Horseshoe pond dam at the north end of Virginia City (next to the McFarland Curatorial Building Center) has been closed due to water flow and seepage through and under the 20' tall, 130' long Horseshoe earthen dam structure.
The road / dam was apparently built sometime in the late 1920's or early 1930's and is located on state owned land on Alder Creek, near Montana Highway 287. The water level in Horseshoe pond has been lowered substantially to reduce further erosion of the dam structure.
The dam was evaluated by a DNRC engineer and found to be unstable and MAY ERODE RAPIDLY if a high snowmelt runoff occurs - or if the water level rises in Horseshoe pond.
Madison County, DES, DNRC, FWP and State officials all believe that further serious erosion of the dam structure has been minimalized at this time by lowering the water level behind the dam -
The possibility of surprise showers and seasonal thundershowers has caused agencies to recommend the closing of the downstream creek and childrens fishing pond for safety reasons.
The Horseshoe pond is a small pond that sits above the children's fishing pond and is the first in a series of ponds on Alder Creek between Virginia City and Nevada City.
The Madison County Sheriff's Office and Madison County DES will be monitoring the area closure and the FLOOD ADVISORY situation noted above - and will evaluate options and take appropriate action as conditions warrant. Violaters of this closure may be cited.
State representatives have been discussing the rebuilding process with local users - seeking help in repairing the dam and road with local assistance from Moen Mining and other local individuals. Discussions are still in the planning phase.
Click here to add text.
The Madison County Commissioners hope you have found this web-site to be helpful in understanding the beauty and flavor of Madison County - and in staying aware of the dynamic daily occurrences in one of the most spectacular counties in
North America.
We encourage you to visit regularly!
Last Updated: Friday July 10th, 2009
A few miles outside of Norris
Madison Valley - just outside of Ennis
Jack Creek drainage in the background
Madison County sunset - June 16th, 2009
County Earthquake Facts
In western Montana, the Intermountain Seismic Quake Belt is up to 100 km wide. A branch of the Intermountain Seismic Belt extends west from the northwest corner of Yellowstone Park, through Madison County, into Southwestern Montana and to central Idaho.
This branch, the Centennial Tectonic Branch, includes at least eight major active faults and has been the site of the two largest historic earthquakes in the northern Rocky Mountains, the August 18, 1959 Hebgen Lake, Montana, earthquake (M 7.5), and the October 28, 1983 Borah Peak, Idaho, earthquake (M 7.3).
Although it has been over four decades since the last widely destructive earthquake in Montana, small earthquakes are common in the region, occurring at an average rate of 7-10 earthquakes per day.
A line of thunderstorms makes its way into
Madison County
on the morning of July 7th.
This welcomed pattern of near daily moisture
has helped maintain the lush green appearance
of the area.
good night
4th of July Thunderstorm
A huge thundercloud develops over the Tobacco Root Mountains near the Pony / Harrison area about noon on the fourth of July - as photographed from the Ennis Fire Station.
Clearly defined Cyclonic Flow can be seen at the base of the cloud and to the right of the picture is a well established Hail Shaft.
Though these cloud formations are fairly common in the summer months in southwest Montana, their brief but spectacular beauty is still awesome and inspiring to observe.
Joe and Wendy Husar - Harrison Volunteer Fire Dept. - 4th of July
