Upper Glasston West Dam dam
Upper Glasston West Dam
Upper Glasston West Dam, also known as Lake Adam West Dam, is a privately owned structure located in Sweet Grass, Montana, near the city of Greycliff. Completed in 1912, this earth dam stands at a height of 22 feet and serves primarily for irrigation purposes along the Sweetgrass Canal. With a storage capacity of 6236 acre-feet and a surface area of 407 acres, the dam plays a crucial role in supporting agricultural activities in the region.
Despite its long history, Upper Glasston West Dam has been classified as having a high hazard potential with a poor condition assessment. The last inspection in July 2021 revealed the need for improvements to ensure the safety and integrity of the structure. As a state-regulated facility under the jurisdiction of the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation (DNRC), the dam undergoes regular inspections and enforcement measures to address any concerns.
As water resource and climate enthusiasts, understanding the significance of Upper Glasston West Dam in sustaining irrigation activities and managing water resources in the region is essential. With its historical importance and critical role in agriculture, efforts to maintain and improve the dam's safety and functionality are paramount to ensure the continued support of water supply for the local community and surrounding areas.
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 Upper Glasston West Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Boulder River At Big Timber Mt | 1,100 cfs | → |
| Musselshell River Ab Mud Cr Nr Shawmut Mt | 136 cfs | → |
| Musselshell River At Harlowton Mt | 245 cfs | → |
| Musselshell River Nr Martinsdale | 192 cfs | → |
| Shields River Nr Livingston Mt | 347 cfs | → |
| South Fork Musselshell R Ab Martinsdale Mt | 43 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Upper Glasston West Dam.
Boat launches
- Howie Road Sweet Grass County
- Greycliff Bridge Sweet Grass County
- North Yellowstone Trail Road Sweet Grass County
- West Frontage Road Stillwater County
Campgrounds
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
Track Upper Glasston West 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 Upper Glasston West Dam
Where does the data for Upper Glasston West 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 Upper Glasston West Dam.