Lori Detention Dam dam
Lori Detention Dam
Lori Detention Dam, located in Saco, Montana, is a gravity dam built in 1964 by the Bureau of Land Management for flood risk reduction along the Willow Creek and Milk River. With a hydraulic height of 15 feet and a structural height of 19 feet, this dam has a storage capacity of 253 acre-feet and covers a surface area of 77.5 acres. Despite its unsatisfactory condition assessment, the dam has a low hazard potential and a moderate risk assessment rating.
Managed by the Bureau of Land Management, Lori Detention Dam serves as a crucial structure in mitigating flood risks in Valley County. While it lacks certain features such as outlet gates and a controlled spillway, the dam plays a vital role in protecting the surrounding area from potential inundation. The dam's location and design highlight the importance of water resource management in a changing climate, making it a significant asset for both water resource and climate enthusiasts interested in sustainable infrastructure solutions.
As a federal project, Lori Detention Dam falls under the jurisdiction of the Bureau of Land Management, emphasizing the importance of collaboration between government agencies in maintaining and monitoring critical infrastructure. With its historical significance and ongoing risk management measures, the dam serves as a reminder of the need for proactive approaches to water resource management in the face of climate-related challenges. For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Lori Detention Dam offers a fascinating case study in infrastructure resilience and adaptation in a dynamic environmental landscape.
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 Lori Detention Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Milk River At Nashua Mt | 57 cfs | → |
| Milk River At Tampico Mt | 47 cfs | → |
| Beaver Creek Near Hinsdale Mt | 31 cfs | → |
| Nelson Creek Near Van Norman Mt | 0 cfs | → |
| Milk River At Juneberg Bridge Nr Saco Mt | 178 cfs | → |
| Beaver Cr Bl Guston Coulee Nr Saco Mt | 67 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Lori Detention Dam.
Track Lori 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 Lori Detention Dam
Where does the data for Lori 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 Lori Detention Dam.