Kootenai Dvlpmnt Impoundment Dam dam
Kootenai Dvlpmnt Impoundment Dam
Located in Libby, Montana, the Kootenai Development Impoundment Dam, also known as the Zonolite Tailings Dam, is a privately owned structure that was completed in 1980. This earth dam stands at a height of 135 feet, with a hydraulic height of 147 feet and a structural height of 151 feet. With a storage capacity of 1302 acre-feet, the dam serves multiple purposes, including flood control and water storage, along the Rainy Creek.
Despite its importance in water resource management, the Kootenai Development Impoundment Dam has been flagged for its high hazard potential and poor condition assessment. The dam's last inspection in September 2020 revealed areas of concern, prompting the need for regular inspections and maintenance. Additionally, the dam lacks an Emergency Action Plan (EAP) and has a moderate risk assessment rating, indicating the need for improved risk management measures to ensure public safety and environmental protection. As climate change increases the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events, the importance of maintaining and improving the resilience of such critical infrastructure becomes even more crucial for the surrounding community.
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 Kootenai Dvlpmnt Impoundment Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Kootenai River Bl Libby Dam Nr Libby Mt | 9,940 cfs | → |
| Fisher River Near Libby Mt | 476 cfs | → |
| Yaak River Near Troy Mt | 1,380 cfs | → |
| Kootenai River At Leonia Id | 13,900 cfs | → |
| Tobacco River Near Eureka Mt | 388 cfs | → |
| Clark Fork River Below Cabinet Gorge Dam Id | 41,700 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Kootenai Dvlpmnt Impoundment Dam.
Boat launches
- Osprey Landing
- Lincoln County
- City Service Road Libby
- National Forest Development Road 333 Lincoln County
- Rocky Gorge Road Lincoln County
- Peck Gulch Road Lincoln County
Campgrounds
- Timberlane
- Timberlane Campground
- Dunn Creek Flats
- Dunn Creek Campground
- Mcgillivray Campground
- Mcgillivray Campground And Group Sites
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- Junction Of The Fisher River (Three Miles Sownstream Of Libby Dam) To Tub Gulch, Approximately Four Miles Upstream From The Town Of Libby, Montana
- 10 Miles From Tub Gulch To Quartz Creek To 10 Miles From Tub Gulch To Quartz Creek
- From The Junction Of Hennesey Creek Downstream For Nine Miles To The Confluence With The Kootenai River To
- From The Boundary Of The Flagstaff Mountain Inventoried Roadless Area #690 Downstream For Three Miles To The Confluence Of Main Quartz Creek To
- From The Headwaters Of The West Fork Of Quartz Creek Downstream For Three Miles To The Boundary Of The Flagstaff Mountain Inventoried Roadless Area #690 To
- Lookout Creek And South Fork, Sec. 21, T34n, R30w To Upstream For 6 Miles
Track Kootenai Dvlpmnt Impoundment Dam 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 Kootenai Dvlpmnt Impoundment Dam
Where does the data for Kootenai Dvlpmnt Impoundment Dam 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 Kootenai Dvlpmnt Impoundment Dam.