Cedar Creek dam
Cedar Creek
Cedar Creek is a significant water resource structure located in Columbia Falls, Montana. Constructed in 1971 by the USDA NRCS, this earth dam stands at a height of 86 feet, with a hydraulic height of 86 feet and a structural height of 93 feet. The dam has a storage capacity of 2720 acre-feet, serving the primary purpose of water supply.
With a drainage area of 12.7 square miles, Cedar Creek dam plays a crucial role in flood risk reduction and water supply for the region. The dam's spillway, with a width of 110 feet, is uncontrolled, and the outlet gates are also uncontrolled. The structure is considered to have a high hazard potential but is assessed to be in satisfactory condition as of the last assessment in February 2021.
Despite its age, Cedar Creek dam continues to provide essential water resource management benefits to the local community. Its strategic location in the Flathead County, Montana, ensures a reliable water supply for agricultural, industrial, and municipal purposes while mitigating flood risks in the region. The dam's maintenance and inspection protocols are diligently followed to ensure its operational integrity and safety for 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 Cedar Creek -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Flathead River At Columbia Falls Mt | 26,900 cfs | → |
| N F Flathead River Nr Columbia Falls Mt | 9,950 cfs | → |
| S F Flathead River Nr Columbia Falls Mt | 8,060 cfs | → |
| Middle Fork Flathead River Nr West Glacier Mt | 8,680 cfs | → |
| Swan River Near Bigfork Mt | 3,740 cfs | → |
| Swiftcurrent Cr Ab Swiftcurrent Lk At Many Glacier | 113 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Cedar Creek.
Boat launches
- Us 2 Columbia Falls
- Hungry Horse
- National Forest Development Road 5301 Flathead County
- Bayou Road Flathead County
- Apgar Flats Horse West Glacier
- Lakeside Boulevard Whitefish
Campgrounds
- Whitefish State Park
- Whitefish Lake State Park
- Emery Bay
- Emery Bay Campground
- Doris Creek Campground
- Doris Creek
Fishing spots
Track Cedar Creek 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 Cedar Creek
Where does the data for Cedar Creek 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 Cedar Creek.