Higham Dam dam
Higham Dam
Higham Dam, located in Libby, Montana, is a privately owned structure primarily used for fire protection, stock watering, and as a small fish pond. Completed in 1945, this earth dam stands at a height of 8 feet and has a length of 250 feet. With a storage capacity of 52 acre-feet, the dam serves its purpose while also providing a low hazard potential.
Managed by the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation (DNRC), Higham Dam falls under state jurisdiction and is subject to regulation, inspection, and enforcement. Despite being rated as "Not Rated" in terms of condition assessment, the dam's low hazard potential suggests it poses minimal risk. While details on the dam's emergency action plan and risk assessment measures are not available, its location on TR-Big Cherry Creek highlights its importance in the local water resource management system.
Enthusiasts interested in water resource and climate issues in Lincoln County, Montana, may find Higham Dam to be a noteworthy structure. With its historical significance dating back to the mid-20th century, the dam continues to play a vital role in ensuring water availability for firefighting, livestock, and aquatic life in the area. As climate change impacts water resources, understanding the management and maintenance of structures like Higham Dam becomes increasingly important for sustainable water use in the region.
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 Higham Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Fisher River Near Libby Mt | 714 cfs | → |
| Kootenai River Bl Libby Dam Nr Libby Mt | 10,100 cfs | → |
| Yaak River Near Troy Mt | 1,970 cfs | → |
| Clark Fork River Below Cabinet Gorge Dam Id | 61,500 cfs | → |
| Lightning Creek At Clark Fork Id | 929 cfs | → |
| Kootenai River At Leonia Id | 15,800 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Higham Dam.
Boat launches
- City Service Road Libby
- Osprey Landing
- Lincoln County
- Dorr Skeels Road Lincoln County
- National Forest Development Road 333 Lincoln County
- National Forest Development Road 2394 Lincoln County
Campgrounds
- Volunteer Firemans Memorial Park - Libby
- Volunteer Fire Dept Campgrouns
- Blackwell Flats Campground
- Blackwell Flats
- Dunn Creek Campground
- Dunn Creek Flats
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- Junction Of The Fisher River (Three Miles Sownstream Of Libby Dam) To Tub Gulch, Approximately Four Miles Upstream From The Town Of Libby, Montana
- North Fork Bull River, Sec. 32, T29n, R32w To Proposed Cabinet Mtns Wilderness Boundary, Sec. 1, T28n, R32w
- Middle Fork Bull River, Sec. 9, T28n, R33w To Proposed Addition To Cabinet Mtns Wilderness, Sec. 12, T28n, R33w
- 10 Miles From Tub Gulch To Quartz Creek To 10 Miles From Tub Gulch To Quartz Creek
- East Fork Bull River, Headwaters, Sec. 13, T27n, R32w To Cabinet Mountains Wilderness Boundary, Sec. 3, T27n, R32w
- Cabinet Mtns Wilderness Boundary, Sec. 3, T27n, R32w To Bull River, Sec. 12, T27n, R33w
Track Higham Dam 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 Higham Dam
Where does the data for Higham Dam 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 Higham Dam.