Christensen L&C #1 dam
Christensen L&C #1
Christensen L&C #1 is a privately owned earth dam located in Big Horn, Montana, completed in 1958 by the USDA NRCS for fire protection, stock, and small fish pond purposes. The dam has a height of 12 feet and a length of 425 feet, with a storage capacity of 99 acre-feet and a drainage area of 8.55 square miles. It is regulated by the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation (DNRC) and has a low hazard potential with a moderate risk rating.
Situated on the TR-North Fork Two Leggins Creek, Christensen L&C #1 serves as a crucial water resource for the surrounding area, with a maximum discharge capacity of 500 cubic feet per second. The spillway, of uncontrolled type, is 50 feet wide to manage excess water flow. Despite not being rated for condition assessment, the dam is inspected, permitted, and enforced by the state, ensuring its structural integrity and safety for emergency situations. The dam is a testament to effective water management practices in Montana, contributing to both water conservation and climate resilience efforts in the region.
With its strategic location in Congressional District 00 of Montana, Christensen L&C #1 embodies the collaboration between private ownership and government agencies in maintaining water infrastructure for multiple purposes. As water resource and climate enthusiasts, understanding the design, purpose, and regulatory framework of dams like Christensen L&C #1 is essential for advocating sustainable water management practices and resilience-building measures in the face of changing climate conditions. This dam serves as a model for how effective water infrastructure can enhance both public safety and environmental preservation in the region.
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 Christensen L&C #1 -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Little Bighorn River Near Hardin Mt | 229 cfs | → |
| Pryor Creek Nr Huntley Mt | 21 cfs | → |
| Bighorn River Near St. Xavier | 1,550 cfs | → |
| Yellowstone River At Billings Mt | 8,040 cfs | → |
| Bighorn River Ab Tullock Cr Nr Bighorn Mt | 1,940 cfs | → |
| Rosebud C At Reservation Bndry Nr Kirby Mt | 8 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Christensen L&C #1.
Campgrounds
Fishing spots
Track Christensen L&C #1 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 Christensen L&C #1
Where does the data for Christensen L&C #1 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 Low 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 Christensen L&C #1.