Gollaher Reservoir dam
Gollaher Reservoir
Gollaher Reservoir, located in Cascade, Montana, is a private irrigation reservoir designed by the USDA NRCS and completed in 1945. With a dam height of 37.7 feet and a storage capacity of 827 acre-feet, this earth dam structure on Willow Creek serves as a vital source of water for agricultural purposes in the area. The reservoir covers a surface area of 41.3 acres and has a drainage area of 10.25 square miles, making it a significant resource for sustaining local farming operations.
Managed by the DNRC and regulated by the state of Montana, Gollaher Reservoir plays a crucial role in water resource management and climate resilience efforts in the region. Although its condition assessment is currently marked as "Not Rated," the reservoir is considered to have a significant hazard potential. With a maximum discharge capacity of 525 cubic feet per second, the reservoir's operations are closely monitored to ensure the safety and integrity of the dam structure. As a key component of the local irrigation infrastructure, Gollaher Reservoir contributes to the sustainable utilization of water resources for agricultural production in the area.
In the Congressional District 00 of Montana, Gollaher Reservoir stands as a testament to the collaborative efforts between private owners, state agencies, and federal designers to optimize water usage for irrigation purposes. As climate change continues to impact water availability and resource management, reservoirs like Gollaher play a critical role in ensuring water security for agricultural activities in the region. With its strategic location in ULM and its historical significance dating back to the mid-20th century, Gollaher Reservoir remains a cornerstone of water management and climate adaptation efforts in Montana.
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 Gollaher Reservoir -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Missouri River At Cascade Mt | 3,530 cfs | → |
| Smith River Near Eden Mt | 480 cfs | → |
| Missouri River Near Ulm Mt | 4,120 cfs | → |
| Sun River Near Vaughn Mt | 1,120 cfs | → |
| Dearborn River Near Craig Mt | 174 cfs | → |
| Muddy Creek At Vaughn Mt | 87 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Gollaher Reservoir.
Boat launches
- Old Us Highway 91 Cascade County
- Cascade County
- Big Bend Boat Ramp
- Beartooth Road Lewis And Clark County
- Holter Lake Boat Ramp
- Log Gulch Boat Ramp
Campgrounds
- American Legion/Lions Park - Cascade
- Pelican Point Fas
- Prewett Creek Fas
- Mountain Palace Fas
- Mid Canon Fas
- Dearborn Fas
Fishing spots
- Hound Creek
- Dearborn River
- Duck Creek
- Rock Creek (Smith Drainage)
- Logging Creek
- Dry Creek-Krezelok Reservoir
Paddle runs
- Tenderfoot Creek, Sec. 30, T14n, R4e To Deep Creek, Sec. 31, T16n, R4e
- Falls, Sec. 25, T14n, R4e To Smith River, Sec. 25, T14n, R3e
- Missouri River
- Hauser Dam, Sec. 29, T12n, R2w To Cochran Gulch, Sec. 18, T12n, R2w
- Town Of Nelson, Sec. 12, T12n, R2w To Missouri River, Sec. 19, T12n, R2w
Track Gollaher Reservoir 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 Gollaher Reservoir
Where does the data for Gollaher Reservoir 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 Significant 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 Gollaher Reservoir.