Essinger Reservoir dam
Essinger Reservoir
Essinger Reservoir, located in McCone, Montana, is a private water resource with a primary purpose of fire protection, stock, or small fish pond. Completed in 1936, this Earth dam stands at a height of 15 feet and has a storage capacity of 71 acre-feet. The reservoir is situated on Cotter Creek and covers a surface area of 300 feet, providing essential water storage for the local community of Brockway.
Managed by the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation (DNRC), Essinger Reservoir is inspected, regulated, and enforced by the state to ensure its safety and compliance with water resource management guidelines. With a low hazard potential and a condition assessment that is currently not rated, this reservoir serves as a critical infrastructure for water supply, livestock, and fire protection in the region. While the emergency action plan (EAP) status and risk assessment details are pending, Essinger Reservoir remains a vital asset for the sustainable use of water resources in the area.
Despite its age, Essinger Reservoir continues to play a crucial role in water management and climate resilience in Montana. With a maximum storage capacity of 71 acre-feet and a normal storage of 24 acre-feet, this reservoir offers a reliable source of water for various purposes. As climate change impacts water availability, the efficient management and upkeep of Essinger Reservoir are essential for ensuring a sustainable water supply for the local community and addressing the challenges posed by a changing climate.
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 Essinger Reservoir -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Redwater River At Circle Mt | 14 cfs | → |
| Nelson Creek Near Van Norman Mt | 0 cfs | → |
| Missouri River Near Wolf Point Mt | 6,880 cfs | → |
| Yellowstone River At Glendive Mt | 9,690 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Essinger Reservoir.
Track Essinger Reservoir 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 Essinger Reservoir
Where does the data for Essinger Reservoir 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 Essinger Reservoir.