Wilson (Judith Basin) dam
Wilson (Judith Basin)
Wilson (Judith Basin) is a privately owned dam located in Montana, specifically in Judith Basin County. Also known as Surprise Creek Dam, it was designed by the USDA NRCS and serves the primary purpose of irrigation. Completed in 1952, this earth dam stands at a height of 28.6 feet with a hydraulic height of 24.5 feet, creating a storage capacity of 148 acre-feet for water from the Surprise Creek. The dam has a high hazard potential due to its location and condition assessment, but it was rated as satisfactory during the last inspection conducted in February 2021.
Although the Wilson dam has a moderate risk assessment rating, it remains regulated and inspected by the DNRC in Montana. It has a spillway width of 140 feet and is equipped with valve outlet gates for water control. The dam covers a drainage area of 15.6 square miles and has a maximum discharge capacity of 720 cubic feet per second. With a surface area of 12.3 acres and a normal storage capacity of 134 acre-feet, the Wilson (Judith Basin) dam plays a crucial role in sustaining agricultural activities through irrigation in the region. Despite its age, the dam continues to meet guidelines and is actively managed to ensure the safety of surrounding communities and water resources.
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 Wilson (Judith Basin) -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Belt Creek Near Monarch Mt | 255 cfs | → |
| Missouri River Near Great Falls Mt | 5,940 cfs | → |
| Smith River Bl Eagle Cr Nr Fort Logan Mt | 359 cfs | → |
| Smith River Near Ft Logan Mt | 192 cfs | → |
| Musselshell River Nr Martinsdale | 149 cfs | → |
| Missouri River At Fort Benton Mt | 6,610 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Wilson (Judith Basin).
Campgrounds
- Dry Wolf Cabin
- Dry Wolf Campground
- Dry Wolf
- Judith River State Wma
- Judith Guard Station Cabin
- Judith Station
Fishing spots
- Running Wolf Creek
- Dry Wolf Creek
- Dipping Vat Pond
- Dry Fork Belt Creek
- Jefferson Creek
- Middle Fork Judith River
Paddle runs
- Arch Coulee Junction, Sec. 32, T13n, R11e To Forest Boundary, Sec. 35, T13n, R11e
- Tenderfoot Creek, Sec. 30, T14n, R4e To Deep Creek, Sec. 31, T16n, R4e
- Camp Baker To Eden Bridge
- Falls, Sec. 25, T14n, R4e To Smith River, Sec. 25, T14n, R3e
- Marias River
More reservoirs
Track Wilson (Judith Basin) 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 Wilson (Judith Basin)
Where does the data for Wilson (Judith Basin) 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 High 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 Wilson (Judith Basin).