Bass Lake dam
Bass Lake
Bass Lake, also known as Bass Creek Reservoir, is a private water resource located in Ravalli, Montana, near the city of Florence. The lake was completed in 1887 and serves multiple purposes including flood risk reduction, hydroelectric power generation, irrigation, navigation, and recreation. With a dam height of 35 feet and a storage capacity of 3,900 acre-feet, Bass Lake covers a surface area of 93 acres and has a drainage area of 5 square miles.
Managed by the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation (DNRC), Bass Lake has a spillway width of 23 feet and a maximum discharge of 405 cubic feet per second. The lake has a high hazard potential and a moderate risk assessment rating. Although the condition assessment is not rated, the lake's emergency action plan (EAP) status is unknown. The lake's risk management measures and inundation maps preparation status are also not specified, indicating a need for further evaluation and planning to ensure the safety and sustainability of this important water resource in the region.
Overall, Bass Lake is a vital water infrastructure in Montana that plays a significant role in flood control, irrigation, and recreational activities. With its historical significance dating back to the late 19th century, the lake continues to be a valuable asset to the community. As water resource and climate enthusiasts, it is important to monitor and evaluate the safety and sustainability of Bass Lake to ensure its continued functionality and benefit to the surrounding area.
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 Bass Lake -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Bitterroot River At Bell Crossing Nr Victor Mt | 7,690 cfs | → |
| Bitterroot River Near Missoula Mt | 11,600 cfs | → |
| Clark Fork Below Missoula Mt | 21,100 cfs | → |
| Clark Fork Above Missoula Mt | 9,770 cfs | → |
| Clark Fork At Turah Bridge Nr Bonner Mt | 3,050 cfs | → |
| Rock Creek Near Clinton Mt | 2,300 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Bass Lake.
Boat launches
Campgrounds
- Charles Waters Campground
- Charles Waters
- Larry Creek Group Site Group Campground
- West Fork Butte Lookout
- Chief Looking Glass Fas
- Lewis And Clark
Fishing spots
- Bass Creek
- Burnt Fork Bitterroot River
- Bitterroot River
- Blodgett Creek
- Deep Creek Fishing Access
- Blackfoot River
Paddle runs
- No Name Creek Headwaters, Sec. 30, T10n, R22w To Mainstem, Sec. 24, T10n, R22w
- Mainstem Headwaters, Sec. 35, T10n, R22w To South Fork Lolo Creek Trailhead, Sec. 12, T11n, R22w
- Trail #47 And #50, Sec. 5, T36n, R15e To Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness Boundary, Sec. 36, T36n, R15e
- White Sand Mouth, Sec. 34, T37n, R14e To Trail #47 And Trail #50, Sec. 5, T36n, R15e
- White Sands To White Pine (Indian Grave Creek)
- Blodgett Lake Dam, Sec. 27, T6n, R23w To S-B Wilderness Boundary, Sec. 17, T6n, R21w
Track Bass Lake 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 Bass Lake
Where does the data for Bass Lake 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 Bass Lake.