Isaac Creek dam
Isaac Creek
Isaac Creek, also known as Longpre, is a private water resource located in Missoula, Montana, specifically in the city of Alberton. This irrigation dam, completed in 1948, stands at a height of 32 feet and serves the primary purpose of irrigation. With a storage capacity of 125 acre-feet, this earth dam plays a crucial role in managing water resources for agricultural purposes in the region.
Situated in the Seattle District, Isaac Creek has a high hazard potential but is currently assessed to be in satisfactory condition. The dam undergoes inspections every five years, with the last assessment conducted in June 2018. Despite its age, the structure continues to meet regulatory standards set by the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation, with state permitting, inspection, and enforcement in place to ensure its safe operation.
With its location in a picturesque setting near the Isaac Creek, this private irrigation dam serves as a vital lifeline for the surrounding agricultural community. As water resource and climate enthusiasts, the preservation and maintenance of Isaac Creek are essential to sustaining the local ecosystem and ensuring a reliable water supply for future generations.
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 Isaac Creek -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Clark Fork Below Missoula Mt | 15,400 cfs | → |
| Flathead River At Perma Mt | 31,700 cfs | → |
| Bitterroot River Near Missoula Mt | 7,690 cfs | → |
| Clark Fork Above Missoula Mt | 7,840 cfs | → |
| Mission Cr Ab Reservoir Nr St Ignatius Mt | 100 cfs | → |
| South Fork Jocko River Near Arlee Mt | 252 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Isaac Creek.
Boat launches
Campgrounds
Fishing spots
- Petty Creek Fishing Access
- St. John's Fishing Access Site
- Deep Creek Fishing Access
- Tarkio Fishing Access
- Bitterroot River
- Blackfoot River
Paddle runs
- Alberton Gorge (St. John To Forrest Grove)
- Spring Gulch Headwaters, Sec. 12, T14n, R19w To Mainstem, Sec. 35, T14n, R19w
- Montana Creek, Sec. 18, T11n, R24w To Fish Creek, Sec. 8, T12n, R24w
- Wrangle Creek Headwaters, Sec. 18, T15n, R18w To Mainstem, Sec. 21, T15n, R18w
- Mainstem Headwaters, Sec. 21, T11n, R25w To Montana Creek, Sec. 18, T12n, R24w
- Mainstem Headwaters, Sec. 4, T15n, R18w To Boundary, Sec. 2, T13n, R18w
Track Isaac Creek 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 Isaac Creek
Where does the data for Isaac Creek 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 Isaac Creek.