Gleason Lake dam
Gleason Lake
Gleason Lake, located in Ravalli, Montana, is a privately owned irrigation reservoir with a primary purpose of supporting agricultural water needs. The earth dam structure, completed in 1922, stands at a height of 14 feet and has a storage capacity of 180 acre-feet. The lake covers an area of 16 acres and is fed by Willow Creek. Despite its age, Gleason Lake has a low hazard potential and is currently rated as "Not Rated" in terms of condition assessment.
The dam at Gleason Lake is regulated and inspected by the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation (DNRC), ensuring that it meets state standards for safety and operation. While the spillway is uncontrolled with a width of 10 feet, the overall risk assessment for the reservoir is moderate. The last inspection took place in June 2003, with a scheduled frequency of every 10 years. Gleason Lake offers a glimpse into Montana's irrigation infrastructure, serving as a vital water resource for the surrounding agricultural community in Corvallis.
Enthusiasts of water resources and climate in Montana may find Gleason Lake to be an intriguing example of early 20th-century water management practices. Its historical significance, combined with its continued functionality and state regulation, highlights the importance of maintaining and monitoring irrigation reservoirs in a changing climate. With its moderate risk assessment and low hazard potential, Gleason Lake stands as a testament to the enduring resilience of water infrastructure in the face of environmental challenges.
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 Gleason Lake -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Bitterroot River At Bell Crossing Nr Victor Mt | 3,030 cfs | → |
| Middle Fork Rock Cr Nr Philipsburg Mt | 280 cfs | → |
| Bitterroot River Near Darby Mt | 1,980 cfs | → |
| Flint Creek Near Southern Cross Mt | 31 cfs | → |
| Rock Creek Near Clinton Mt | 1,090 cfs | → |
| Flint Creek At Maxville Mt | 38 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Gleason Lake.
Boat launches
- Old Darby Road Ravalli County
- Lake Como Road Ravalli County
- Darby Boat Ramp
- Rocky Mountain Road Ravalli County
Campgrounds
Fishing spots
- Burnt Fork Lake
- Burnt Fork Bitterroot River
- Blodgett Creek
- Bass Creek
- Comers Point Fishing Access
- Sunnyside Fishing Access
Track Gleason Lake 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 Gleason Lake
Where does the data for Gleason Lake 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 Gleason Lake.