Hess dam
Hess
Hess is a privately owned water resource located in Fergus County, Montana, with a primary purpose of serving as a fire protection, stock, or small fish pond. Built in 1930, the earth dam stands at 20 feet high and has a storage capacity of 51 acre-feet, with a normal storage level of 26 acre-feet. The dam is situated on the TR-Missouri River and falls under the jurisdiction of the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation (DNRC).
Although Hess has a low hazard potential and is currently rated as "Not Rated" in terms of condition assessment, it is subject to state regulation, permitting, inspection, and enforcement. The dam has a maximum discharge capacity of 1200 cubic feet per second and a length of 350 feet. Despite lacking detailed data on surface area, drainage area, spillway type, and outlet gates, Hess remains a crucial water resource for fire protection and livestock management in the region. With its historical significance and role in supporting local ecosystems, Hess contributes to the sustainable management of water resources in Montana.
As water resource and climate enthusiasts, the Hess dam presents an intriguing case study in the resilience and management of small-scale water infrastructure. With its modest size and multi-purpose functionality, Hess showcases the importance of maintaining and monitoring dams for both human and environmental needs. By staying informed about the regulatory oversight, condition assessment, and emergency preparedness measures associated with Hess, enthusiasts can gain valuable insights into the complexities of water resource management in the face of changing climate conditions. As a key player in the local water landscape, Hess serves as a reminder of the interconnectedness between water resources, climate dynamics, and sustainable development practices.
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 Hess -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Missouri River Near Landusky Mt | 7,050 cfs | → |
| Judith River Nr Mouth | 425 cfs | → |
| Peoples Creek Near Hays Mt | 4 cfs | → |
| Milk River Near Harlem Mt | 461 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Hess.
Boat launches
- Woodhawk (Lower)
- Homestead - Gus Nelson
- Woodhawk (Middle)
- Cow Island
- Woodhawk (Upper)
- Gist Bottom Recreation Area
Campgrounds
- Woodhawk Recreation Area
- Woodhawk (Middle)
- Woodhawk (Upper)
- Gist Bottom Recreation Area
- Hideaway Recreation Area
- Greasewood Bottom
Track Hess 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 Hess
Where does the data for Hess 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 Hess.