Delmoe Lake Dam dam
Delmoe Lake Dam
Delmoe Lake Dam, located in Jefferson County, Montana, stands as a vital structure for irrigation purposes since its completion in 1914. This earth dam, towering at a height of 60 feet, harnesses the waters of Big Pipestone Creek to provide a storage capacity of 9,900 acre-feet, serving the surrounding agricultural lands. The dam's normal storage capacity of 6,585 acre-feet supports a surface area of 310 acres, ensuring water availability for the area's needs.
With a high hazard potential but a satisfactory condition assessment, Delmoe Lake Dam remains a key component of the local water resource infrastructure. The dam is state-regulated, with the Department of Natural Resources and Conservation overseeing its permitting, inspection, and enforcement. The last inspection in 2021 revealed its satisfactory condition, highlighting the importance of regular monitoring and maintenance to ensure its continued functionality. Despite its age, the dam's structure and storage capacity support the region's irrigation needs effectively.
Delmoe Lake Dam's historical significance, coupled with its critical role in water management, underscores the importance of maintaining and monitoring this key structure. As climate change impacts water resources, the dam's ability to store and regulate water flow becomes increasingly crucial. With its location in a high-hazard area, ongoing risk management measures and emergency preparedness are essential to safeguard the surrounding communities and agricultural lands. As a cornerstone of water resource management in the region, Delmoe Lake Dam symbolizes the intersection of human ingenuity and environmental stewardship in ensuring water security for generations to come.
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 Delmoe Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Blacktail Creek At Butte Mt | 16 cfs | → |
| Silver Bow Cr Bl Blacktail Cr At Butte Mt | 17 cfs | → |
| Boulder River Near Boulder Mt | 150 cfs | → |
| Silver Bow Creek At Opportunity Mt | 44 cfs | → |
| Willow Creek At Opportunity | 9 cfs | → |
| Mill Creek At Opportunity | 7 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Delmoe Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Jefferson County
- Mt 359 Jefferson County
- Divide Bridge Boat Ramp
- Maiden Rock Boat Ramp
- Jerry Creek Bridge Boat Ramp
- Us 287 Gallatin County
Campgrounds
- Delmoe Lake
- Delmoe Lake Campground And Picnic Area
- The Lunch Room
- Toll Mtn Campground
- Toll Mountain
- Toll Mountain Campground
Track Delmoe Lake 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 Delmoe Lake Dam
Where does the data for Delmoe Lake 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 Delmoe Lake Dam.