Lake Creek dam
Lake Creek
Lake Creek, located in Lincoln, Montana, is a privately owned hydroelectric dam with a primary purpose of generating power. This gravity dam, completed in 1917, stands at a height of 44 feet and spans a length of 268 feet, holding back a reservoir with a storage capacity of 249 acre-feet. The dam controls the flow of the Lake Creek and Kootenai River, with a maximum discharge capacity of 6,925 cubic feet per second.
With a surface area of 30 acres and a drainage area of 215 square miles, Lake Creek poses a high hazard potential due to its very high risk assessment rating. The dam features a controlled spillway with a width of 104 feet and is equipped with 18 slide (sluice gate) outlet gates. While the condition assessment is not available, the last inspection in September 2020 revealed the need for regular monitoring and maintenance to ensure the safety and integrity of the structure. Despite its federal regulatory oversight by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, the dam is not state-regulated nor subject to state inspection, permitting, or enforcement.
Lake Creek serves as a vital component of the region's water resource infrastructure and contributes to the local hydroelectric power generation. Enthusiasts interested in water resources and climate in the area can appreciate the historical significance and engineering marvel of this structure, while also recognizing the importance of ongoing risk management measures to safeguard against potential hazards and ensure the sustainable use of this valuable resource.
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 Lake Creek -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Yaak River Near Troy Mt | 1,380 cfs | → |
| Kootenai River At Leonia Id | 13,900 cfs | → |
| Kootenai River Bel Moyie River Nr Bonners Ferry Id | 15,600 cfs | → |
| Lightning Creek At Clark Fork Id | 749 cfs | → |
| Kootenai River Bl Libby Dam Nr Libby Mt | 9,940 cfs | → |
| Clark Fork River Below Cabinet Gorge Dam Id | 41,700 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Lake Creek.
Boat launches
- Us 2 Lincoln County
- National Forest Development Road 2394 Lincoln County
- Dorr Skeels Road Lincoln County
- City Service Road Libby
- Osprey Landing
- State Highway 200 Hope
Campgrounds
- Kootenai River Campground
- Yaak River Campground
- Yaak River
- Kilbrennan Lake
- Kilbrennan Lake Campground
- Dorr Skeels
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- 9 Miles From Quartz Creek To Surprise Gulch,Two Miles Below Kootenai Falls To 9 Miles From Quartz Creek To Surprise Gulch,Two Miles Below Kootenai Falls
- 10 Miles From Surprise Gulch To A Mile Below Kootenai Vista Estates To 10 Miles From Surprise Gulch To A Mile Below Kootenai Vista Estates
- From The Headwaters Of The West Fork Of Quartz Creek Downstream For Three Miles To The Boundary Of The Flagstaff Mountain Inventoried Roadless Area #690 To
- From The Boundary Of The Flagstaff Mountain Inventoried Roadless Area #690 Downstream For Three Miles To The Confluence Of Main Quartz Creek To
- Yaak Falls, Sec. 4, T33n, R33w To Downstream To Bpa Powerline, 6 Miles West Of Troy
- 10 Miles From Tub Gulch To Quartz Creek To 10 Miles From Tub Gulch To Quartz Creek
Track Lake 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 Lake Creek
Where does the data for Lake 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 Lake Creek.