Kicking Horse dam
Kicking Horse
Kicking Horse is a Federal-owned dam located in Lake, Montana, with a primary purpose of fire protection, stock, or small fish pond. Completed in 1930, this Earth dam stands at a height of 30 feet and spans a length of 5220 feet, with a storage capacity of 9200 acre-feet. The dam is situated on a feeder canal and is managed by the Bureau of Indian Affairs.
Despite its age, Kicking Horse has a high hazard potential and a very high risk assessment rating. The last inspection of the dam was conducted in August 2012, with an inspection frequency of every 5 years. The Emergency Action Plan (EAP) for the dam was last revised in March 2015, but details on its adherence to guidelines and preparation for potential emergencies are not available.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Kicking Horse presents an intriguing case study of a historic dam with significant risk factors. Its location in a high-hazard area, coupled with its age and lack of recent condition assessments, raises questions about the dam's resilience and ability to withstand potential disasters. As discussions around dam safety and infrastructure maintenance continue to evolve, Kicking Horse serves as a reminder of the importance of proactive risk management and emergency preparedness in safeguarding our water resources.
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 Kicking Horse -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| South Crow Creek Near Ronan Mt | 9 cfs | → |
| Mission Cr Ab Reservoir Nr St Ignatius Mt | 68 cfs | → |
| Flathead River Near Polson Mt | 24,700 cfs | → |
| South Fork Jocko River Near Arlee Mt | 191 cfs | → |
| Flathead River At Perma Mt | 25,400 cfs | → |
| Clark Fork Near Plains Mt | 38,700 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Kicking Horse.
Boat launches
Campgrounds
- North Crow Creek
- Lindbergh Lake Campground
- Lindbergh Lake
- Old Condon Ranger Station
- Finley Point State Park
- Holland Lake Campground Larch Loop
Fishing spots
- Blacktail Lake
- Lake Alva
- Big Salmon Lake
- Big Salmon Creek
- Petty Creek Fishing Access
- Deep Creek Fishing Access
Paddle runs
- Wrangle Creek Headwaters, Sec. 18, T15n, R18w To Mainstem, Sec. 21, T15n, R18w
- Headwaters, Sec. 17, T19n, R15w To Seeley Lake, Sec. 20, T17n, R15w
- Lake Creek Headwaters, Sec. 30, T15n, R18w To Mainstem, Sec. 21, T15n, R18w
- Headwaters, Sec. 7, T18n, R14w To Morrell Falls, Sec. 24, T18n, R15w
- Morrell Falls, Sec. 24, T18n, R15w To Morrell Falls Trailhead, Sec. 36, T18n, R15w
- High Falls Creek Headwaters, Sec. 5, T14n, R18w To Mainstem, Sec. 2, T14n, R18w
More reservoirs
Track Kicking Horse 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 Kicking Horse
Where does the data for Kicking Horse 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 Kicking Horse.