Ackley Lake Dam dam
Ackley Lake Dam
Ackley Lake Dam, located in Judith Basin, Montana, is a state-regulated earth dam built in 1938 primarily for irrigation purposes. With a height of 55 feet and a storage capacity of 8,315 acre-feet, the dam sits on the TR-Hauck Coulee and has a drainage area of 2.6 square miles. The dam's spillway type is uncontrolled, with a width of 17 feet, and it has a maximum discharge capacity of 1,410 cubic feet per second.
The dam, managed by the Department of Natural Resources and Conservation (DNRC), has a high hazard potential but is currently in a satisfactory condition, as assessed in December 2020. The last inspection in October 2021 showed that the dam meets safety standards, with an inspection frequency of every 5 years. Although the dam's risk assessment is moderate, with a rating of 3, there are no specific risk management measures or inundation maps prepared at this time.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Ackley Lake Dam represents a significant infrastructure for irrigation in the area, providing vital water storage for agricultural activities. The dam's historical significance, solid structural integrity, and ongoing regulatory oversight by the state make it an essential component of water management in the region. The dam's location and specifications make it an interesting subject for further study and monitoring in the context of changing climate conditions and water resource management strategies.
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 Ackley Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Musselshell River Nr Martinsdale | 169 cfs | → |
| Musselshell River At Harlowton Mt | 214 cfs | → |
| South Fork Musselshell R Ab Martinsdale Mt | 43 cfs | → |
| Musselshell River Ab Mud Cr Nr Shawmut Mt | 168 cfs | → |
| Belt Creek Near Monarch Mt | 269 cfs | → |
| Judith River Nr Mouth | 416 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Ackley Lake Dam.
Campgrounds
- Ackley Lake State Park
- Judith River State Wma
- Judith Station Campground
- Judith Station
- Judith Station Day Use Area
- Judith Guard Station Cabin
Fishing spots
- Ackley Lake Feeder Canal
- Dipping Vat Pond
- Sage Creek (Judith Drainage)
- Running Wolf Creek
- Middle Fork Judith River
- East Fork Cottonwood Creek
Paddle runs
Track Ackley Lake 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 Ackley Lake Dam
Where does the data for Ackley Lake 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 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 Ackley Lake Dam.