Wood Lake Dam dam
Wood Lake Dam
Wood Lake Dam, located in Lewis and Clark County, Montana, is a federal structure managed by the USDA Forest Service. Completed in 1955, the dam stands at a height of 13 feet and serves multiple purposes, including recreation and water resource management. With a storage capacity of 180 acre-feet and a drainage area of 16 square miles, the dam plays a crucial role in regulating the flow of Wood Creek and providing flood control for the surrounding area.
Despite being classified as having a low hazard potential, Wood Lake Dam is considered to have a moderate risk level, emphasizing the importance of ongoing risk management measures. The dam features an uncontrolled spillway and outlet gates, with an inspection frequency of every 10 years to ensure its structural integrity. Although the dam's condition assessment is currently listed as "Not Rated," efforts are in place to monitor and mitigate any potential risks associated with its operation.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Wood Lake Dam offers a fascinating glimpse into the intersection of infrastructure, recreation, and environmental stewardship. As a key component of the local ecosystem, this earth-type dam provides valuable water storage and flow regulation, contributing to the sustainable management of the surrounding water resources. With its strategic location in Lewis and Clark County and its historical significance as a federal structure, Wood Lake Dam stands as a testament to the ongoing efforts to balance human needs with the preservation of natural habitats in the face of changing climate patterns.
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 Wood Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| South Fork Sun River Near Augusta Mt | 685 cfs | → |
| Sun River Bl Diversion Dam Nr Augusta Mt | 641 cfs | → |
| North Fork Sun River Near Augusta Mt | 564 cfs | → |
| Sun River Bl Willow Cr Nr Augusta Mt | 561 cfs | → |
| Teton River Bl South Fork Nr Choteau Mt | 167 cfs | → |
| Nf Blackfoot R Ab Dry Gulch Nr Ovando Mt | 824 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Wood Lake Dam.
Campgrounds
- Wood Lake Campground
- Wood Lake
- Van Deriet Campground
- Double Falls Campground
- Benchmark
- Benchmark Campground
Fishing spots
- Dry Creek-Krezelok Reservoir
- Sun River Slope Canal
- Big Salmon Creek
- Big Salmon Lake
- Alice Creek
- Arrastra Creek
Paddle runs
- Headwaters, Sec. 15, T18n, R10w To Straight Creek, Sec. 25, T19n, R10w
- Dobrota Headwaters, Sec. 23, T18n, R10w To Mainstem, Sec. 31, T18n, R9w
- Cooney Cr Headwaters, Sec. 17, T19n, R9w To Mainstem, Sec. 1, T17n, R10w
- Wilderness Boundary To South Fork Sun River, Sec. 26, T22n, R10w
- Headwaters, Sec. 4, T18n, R10w To North Fork Sun River, Sec. 26, T22n, R10w
- Fool Creek, Sec. 24, T25n, R11w To Wilderness Boundary
Track Wood Lake 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 Wood Lake Dam
Where does the data for Wood Lake 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 Wood Lake Dam.