Helen B Dent Dam dam
Helen B Dent Dam
Helen B Dent Dam, located in Carter, Montana, along the West Fork T. L. Creek, is a federal-owned structure managed by the Bureau of Land Management. This gravity dam, with a hydraulic height of 32 feet and a structural height of 37 feet, serves multiple purposes, including flood control and water storage. The dam has a normal storage capacity of 0.54 acre-feet and a maximum storage of 123.3 acre-feet, covering a surface area of 29.35 acres with a drainage area of 0.2 square miles.
Despite being categorized as having a low hazard potential and a satisfactory condition assessment, Helen B Dent Dam is subject to regular inspections by the Bureau of Land Management to ensure its safety and functionality. The dam features an uncontrolled spillway with a width of 2 feet and has not undergone any significant modifications in recent years. With a moderate risk assessment rating of 3, the dam's risk management measures are currently unspecified, indicating a need for ongoing monitoring and maintenance to mitigate potential risks and ensure the continued safety of the surrounding area and water resources.
Water resource and climate enthusiasts can appreciate Helen B Dent Dam for its important role in managing water levels and mitigating flood risks in the region. As a key piece of infrastructure owned and operated by the federal government, the dam exemplifies the ongoing efforts to balance the needs of water storage and flood control while maintaining the safety and integrity of the surrounding environment. With its unique design and purpose, Helen B Dent Dam stands as a testament to the critical role that dams play in water resource management and climate resilience efforts in Montana and beyond.
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 Helen B Dent Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Belle Fourche River Near Alva | 14 cfs | → |
| Little Powder River Ab Dry Creek | 3 cfs | → |
| Little Missouri R At Camp Crook Sd | 4 cfs | → |
| Belle Fourche R At Wy-Sd State Line | 7 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Helen B Dent Dam.
More reservoirs
Track Helen B Dent 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 Helen B Dent Dam
Where does the data for Helen B Dent 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 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 Helen B Dent Dam.