Lyle dam
Lyle
Lyle is a private earth dam located in Richland, Montana, designed by USDA NRCS and completed in 1954 for fire protection, stock, or small fish pond purposes. Situated on TR-FOX CREEK in the city of SIDNEY, Lyle stands at a height of 10 feet with a length of 250 feet and a storage capacity of 50 acre-feet. The dam is regulated by the DNRC and undergoes regular state inspections, enforcement, and permitting to ensure its safety and compliance with state regulations.
Despite its low hazard potential and current "Not Rated" condition assessment, Lyle serves as a crucial water resource infrastructure in the area, providing essential functions for fire protection, livestock, and fish habitat. The dam's strategic location and design contribute to its effectiveness in managing water resources and supporting the local ecosystem. With a history dating back to 1954, Lyle has consistently met its primary purposes while being continuously monitored for any necessary maintenance or improvements to uphold its operational efficiency.
As a significant feature in the water resource network of Montana, Lyle showcases the collaborative efforts between federal agencies like USDA NRCS and state agencies like DNRC in managing and regulating dam structures for multiple purposes. With its proximity to the Omaha District and under the jurisdiction of Congressional District 00, Montana, Lyle represents a model of responsible dam construction and operation that aligns with both federal and state guidelines. For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Lyle offers a compelling case study on the importance of sustainable infrastructure development and management in ensuring water security and environmental resilience.
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 Lyle -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Yellowstone River Near Sidney Mt | 13,400 cfs | → |
| Charbonneau Creek Nr Charbonneau | 0 cfs | → |
| Missouri River Near Culbertson Mt | 5,080 cfs | → |
| Yellowstone River At Glendive Mt | 16,800 cfs | → |
| Beaver Creek Nr Trotters | 2 cfs | → |
| Big Muddy Cr Nr Mouth Nr Culbertson Mt | 11 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Lyle.
Track Lyle 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 Lyle
Where does the data for Lyle 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 Lyle.