Lester #1 dam
Lester #1
Lester #1 is a privately owned earth dam located in Carbon County, Montana, near the city of Fromberg. Completed in 1941, the dam serves multiple purposes including fire protection, stock, and a small fish pond. It is regulated by the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation (DNRC), with state permitting, inspection, and enforcement in place to ensure its safety and compliance with regulations.
With a dam height of 25 feet and a storage capacity of 122 acre-feet, Lester #1 has a low hazard potential and is currently rated as "Not Rated" in terms of condition assessment. While the dam has not been inspected recently, it is situated on TR-Sand Creek and serves as a vital resource for water management in the region. With its historical significance and ongoing role in providing essential services, Lester #1 is a key component of Montana's water infrastructure.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Lester #1 offers a glimpse into the intersection of human engineering and environmental stewardship. As part of the Omaha District and Congressional District 00 in Montana, the dam represents a balance between human needs for water management and the preservation of natural ecosystems. With its primary purpose of fire protection and stock maintenance, Lester #1 showcases the importance of sustainable water resource management in the face of changing climate patterns.
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 Lester #1 -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Clarks Fork Yellowstone River At Edgar Mt | 2,160 cfs | → |
| Willow Creek Near Boyd Mt | 6 cfs | → |
| Red Lodge Cr Ab Cooney Re Nr Boyd Mt | 17 cfs | → |
| Stillwater River Near Absarokee Mt | 1,030 cfs | → |
| Clarks Fork Yellowstone River Nr Belfry Mt | 2,350 cfs | → |
| Rock Creek Near Red Lodge Mt | 225 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Lester #1.
Campgrounds
- Tent Camp Site
- Sheridan Campground
- Basin Campground
- Rattine Campground
- Rattin Campground
- Parkside Campground And Group Campsites
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- Custer Boundary, Sec. 6, T8s, R20e To Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness Boundary
- Custer Forest Boundary, Sec. 19, T8s, R20e To Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness Boundary
- Piney Creek
- Confluence Rock Creek, Sec. 34, T8s, R19e To Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness Boundary
- Bear Creek
- Custer Forest Boundary, Sec. 1, T7s, S16e To Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness Boundary
More reservoirs
Track Lester #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 Lester #1
Where does the data for Lester #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 Lester #1.