Judy Detention Dam dam
Judy Detention Dam
Judy Detention Dam, located in Valley County, Montana, was completed in 1960 by the Bureau of Land Management for purposes including fire protection, stock, and small fish pond management. This gravity dam on Willow Creek, a tributary of the Milk River, stands at a structural height of 22 feet and has a hydraulic height of 17 feet. With a storage capacity of 803 acre-feet and a surface area of 65.05 acres, the dam serves as a crucial water resource for the surrounding area.
Managed by the Bureau of Land Management, Judy Detention Dam has a low hazard potential and a satisfactory condition assessment. It features an uncontrolled spillway with a width of 3 feet and is inspected every five years. Despite its moderate risk level, the dam has not had any major modifications since its construction and does not fall under the jurisdiction of state regulatory agencies. With its primary purpose of providing essential water resources for fire protection and livestock, Judy Detention Dam plays a vital role in sustaining the local ecosystem and supporting agricultural activities in the region.
Overall, Judy Detention Dam is a significant infrastructure asset in Valley County, Montana, ensuring water security for various uses while also contributing to the overall environmental health of the area. As a gravity dam with a long history of service, it continues to fulfill its intended purposes effectively, demonstrating the importance of proper water resource management in mitigating climate-related challenges and maintaining sustainable water supplies for the community.
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 Judy Detention Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Milk River At Tampico Mt | 41 cfs | → |
| Milk River At Nashua Mt | 126 cfs | → |
| Beaver Creek Near Hinsdale Mt | 37 cfs | → |
| Milk River At Juneberg Bridge Nr Saco Mt | 182 cfs | → |
| Beaver Cr Bl Guston Coulee Nr Saco Mt | 67 cfs | → |
| Nelson Creek Near Van Norman Mt | · | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Judy Detention Dam.
Track Judy Detention 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 Judy Detention Dam
Where does the data for Judy Detention 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 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 Judy Detention Dam.