Wolery Waters dam
Wolery Waters
Wolery Waters in Montana is a privately owned irrigation dam completed in 1945, standing at 15 feet tall and stretching 360 feet across. Located in GILDFORD, Hill County, this earth dam serves the primary purpose of irrigation and boasts a storage capacity of 138 acre-feet. With a significant hazard potential, the dam is regulated, permitted, inspected, and enforced by the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation (DNRC).
Despite its age, Wolery Waters has not been rated for its condition, and its emergency action plan (EAP) status remains unknown. With no recent inspection date available, the risk assessment and management measures for the dam are unclear. Furthermore, there is no information on whether the EAP meets guidelines or if inundation maps have been prepared for the area. The lack of updated data on emergency contacts and the last EAP revision date raises concerns about the readiness and safety of the dam in case of an emergency.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Wolery Waters presents an intriguing case study of a historic irrigation dam in need of updated safety assessments and emergency preparedness. The significant hazard potential of the dam, coupled with the lack of recent inspections and assessments, highlights the importance of ongoing monitoring and maintenance for aging infrastructure. With its location in the heart of Montana, this dam serves as a reminder of the critical role that proper regulation and oversight play in ensuring the safety and sustainability of water resources in the face of changing climate conditions.
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 Wolery Waters -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Milk River At Eastern Crossing Of Int Bndry | 462 cfs | → |
| Marias River Near Chester Mt | 526 cfs | → |
| Big Sandy Creek Near Havre Mt | 3 cfs | → |
| Milk River At Havre Mt | 969 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Wolery Waters.
Track Wolery Waters 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 Wolery Waters
Where does the data for Wolery Waters 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 Significant 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 Wolery Waters.