Lake Frances North Dam dam
Lake Frances North Dam
Lake Frances North Dam, located in Cut Bank, Montana, serves as a crucial irrigation source in the Pondera County region. Built in 1909, this earth dam stands at a height of 22 feet, with a storage capacity of 133,619 acre-feet and a normal storage level of 110,500 acre-feet. With a surface area of 5,300 acres and draining an area of 13.2 square miles, the dam plays a pivotal role in water management for the surrounding agricultural lands.
Maintained by private ownership, Lake Frances North Dam is regulated by the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation (DNRC), ensuring state jurisdiction, regulation, inspection, and enforcement. Despite its satisfactory condition assessment, the dam poses a high hazard potential, prompting a 5-year inspection frequency to monitor its structural integrity. With a risk assessment rating of high (2), the dam's emergency action plan is crucial in preparing for potential inundation scenarios and ensuring the safety of downstream communities.
It is evident that Lake Frances North Dam stands as a vital infrastructure for irrigation purposes in the region, showcasing the intersection of water resource management and climate resilience. As enthusiasts in the field, understanding the intricacies of this dam's design, maintenance, and risk management measures highlights the importance of sustainable water practices in addressing the challenges posed by climate change.
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 Lake Frances North Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Marias River Near Shelby Mt | 828 cfs | → |
| Cut Bank Creek At Cut Bank Mt | 153 cfs | → |
| Badger Cr Bl Four Horns Canal Nr Browning Mt | 305 cfs | → |
| Teton River Bl South Fork Nr Choteau Mt | 167 cfs | → |
| Two Medicine River Bl South Fork Nr Browning Mt | 555 cfs | → |
| Cut Bank Creek Near Browning Mt | 60 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Lake Frances North Dam.
Paddle runs
- Headwaters, Sec. 34, T28n, R11w To Swift Reservoir
- Pool Creek, Sec. 7, T28n, R12w To Falls, Sec. 25, T29n, R12w
- Schafer Meadows To Bear Creek (Upper)
- Fool Creek, Sec. 24, T25n, R11w To Wilderness Boundary
- Headwaters, Sec. 4, T18n, R10w To North Fork Sun River, Sec. 26, T22n, R10w
- Wilderness Boundary To South Fork Sun River, Sec. 26, T22n, R10w
Track Lake Frances North 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 Lake Frances North Dam
Where does the data for Lake Frances North 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 Lake Frances North Dam.