Deerborn Reservoir dam
Deerborn Reservoir
Deerborn Reservoir, located in Lewis and Clark County, Montana, is a privately owned irrigation reservoir on Rock Creek. Built in 1900, the earth dam stands at 20 feet high and has a storage capacity of 113 acre-feet, with a normal storage level of 43 acre-feet. The reservoir serves the primary purpose of irrigation and is regulated by the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation.
Despite its low hazard potential and not yet rated condition assessment, Deerborn Reservoir plays a crucial role in supporting local agriculture in the region. The reservoir is equipped with outlet gates and has a spillway width that ensures safe water discharge during high flow events. Its strategic location in the Walla Walla District and proximity to the city of Craig make it a valuable water resource for the surrounding community.
While lacking certain modern features like inundation maps and a comprehensive risk assessment, Deerborn Reservoir remains a vital asset for water management in the area. With its long history of providing irrigation water and its regulatory oversight by the state, the reservoir continues to support sustainable agriculture practices and contribute to the overall water resource management efforts in Montana.
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 Deerborn Reservoir -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Little Prickly Pear Cr At Wolf Cr Mt | 92 cfs | → |
| Missouri River Bl Holter Dam Nr Wolf Cr Mt | 3,260 cfs | → |
| Dearborn River Near Craig Mt | 213 cfs | → |
| Missouri River Bl Hauser Lake Nr Helena Mt | 3,330 cfs | → |
| Missouri River At Cascade Mt | 3,700 cfs | → |
| Tenmile Creek Near Helena Mt | 30 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Deerborn Reservoir.
Boat launches
- Holter Dam Boat Ramp
- Beartooth Road Lewis And Clark County
- Holter Lake Boat Ramp
- Log Gulch Boat Ramp
- Hauser Dam Road Helena Valley Northeast
- White Sandy Boat Ramp
Campgrounds
- Wolf Creek Bridge Fas
- Holter Dam
- Holter Lake Campground
- Holter Lake State Rec Area
- Craig Fas
- Lichen Cliff Fas
Fishing spots
- Dearborn River
- Little Prickly Pear Creek
- Alice Creek
- Missouri River Fishing Access Site
- Silver Creek
- Prickly Pear Creek
Track Deerborn 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 Deerborn Reservoir
Where does the data for Deerborn 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 Deerborn Reservoir.