Polson Sewage Lagoon dam
Polson Sewage Lagoon
The Polson Sewage Lagoon, located in Lake County, Montana, is a vital water resource management facility owned by the local government. This sewage lagoon serves as a key component in the treatment of wastewater from the surrounding area, contributing to the protection of the nearby Flathead River. With a significant hazard potential and a design dating back to 1963, the lagoon stands as a testament to the importance of proper water infrastructure in maintaining environmental health.
Managed by the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation (DNRC), the Polson Sewage Lagoon is subject to state regulations and inspections to ensure its continued operation and environmental compliance. With a storage capacity of 84 acre-feet and a height of 8 feet, this earth dam structure plays a crucial role in controlling and treating wastewater in the region. Despite being labeled as "Not Rated" in terms of condition assessment, the lagoon remains a vital piece of infrastructure in safeguarding water resources.
As climate change continues to impact water resources and infrastructure across the globe, facilities like the Polson Sewage Lagoon play a crucial role in managing and mitigating environmental risks. With a focus on water quality and conservation, the lagoon represents a local response to the growing challenges posed by a changing climate. As enthusiasts in water resource management and climate adaptation, the Polson Sewage Lagoon stands as a reminder of the interconnected nature of water systems and the importance of sustainable infrastructure development in safeguarding our environment.
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 Polson Sewage Lagoon -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Flathead River Near Polson Mt | 30,100 cfs | → |
| South Crow Creek Near Ronan Mt | 9 cfs | → |
| Swan River Near Bigfork Mt | 3,390 cfs | → |
| Mill Cr Ab Bassoo Cr Nr Niarada Mt | 2 cfs | → |
| Mission Cr Ab Reservoir Nr St Ignatius Mt | 81 cfs | → |
| Flathead River At Perma Mt | 31,400 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Polson Sewage Lagoon.
Boat launches
- Point Salish Park
- Elmo Fishing Access
- Lake County
- Us 93 7198, Flathead County
- Kearney Rapids Boat Launch
- Flathead County
Campgrounds
- Finley Point State Park
- Big Arm State Park
- North Crow Creek
- Yellow Bay State Park
- West Shore State Park
- Van Lake Campground And Day Use
Fishing spots
- Abbot Lake
- Ashley Creek
- Big Hawk Lake
- Blacktail Lake
- Birch Lake
- Spotted Bear Compound Day Use Site Fishing Site
Paddle runs
- Cuttoff, Sec. 9, T18n, R27w To Sec. 34, T19n, R25w
- Headwaters, Sec. 7, T18n, R14w To Morrell Falls, Sec. 24, T18n, R15w
- Headwaters, Sec. 17, T19n, R15w To Seeley Lake, Sec. 20, T17n, R15w
- Morrell Falls, Sec. 24, T18n, R15w To Morrell Falls Trailhead, Sec. 36, T18n, R15w
- Wrangle Creek Headwaters, Sec. 18, T15n, R18w To Mainstem, Sec. 21, T15n, R18w
- Lake Creek Headwaters, Sec. 30, T15n, R18w To Mainstem, Sec. 21, T15n, R18w
Track Polson Sewage Lagoon 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 Polson Sewage Lagoon
Where does the data for Polson Sewage Lagoon 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 Significant 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 Polson Sewage Lagoon.