Hirschy dam
Hirschy
Hirschy, also known as Highland Reservoir, is a privately owned irrigation dam located in Wisdom, Montana. Constructed in 1967, this earth dam stands at 30 feet high and stretches 2100 feet in length, providing a storage capacity of 795 acre-feet for water from the TR-ROCK CREEK. The dam serves the primary purpose of irrigation and is regulated by the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation.
With a low hazard potential and a current condition assessment of 'Not Rated', Hirschy is a crucial water resource infrastructure in Beaverhead County, Montana. The dam's normal storage capacity of 734 acre-feet supports agricultural activities in the region, contributing to sustainable water management practices. While the dam has not been modified since its completion, ongoing inspections and enforcement ensure its safety and functionality for the surrounding community.
Situated in a picturesque location within the Congressional District 00 of Montana, Hirschy plays a vital role in water resource management and climate resilience efforts. Despite the absence of a detailed risk assessment and emergency action plan, the dam's operational status and low hazard potential underscore its importance in supporting local irrigation needs. As water resource and climate enthusiasts, monitoring and advocating for the continued maintenance and improvement of infrastructure like Hirschy is essential to ensure the sustainable use of water resources in the region.
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 Hirschy -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Big Hole River Bl Big Lake Cr At Wisdom Mt | 39 cfs | → |
| Big Hole River Near Jackson Mt | 25 cfs | → |
| Big Hole River Bl Mudd Cr Nr Wisdom Mt | 742 cfs | → |
| Salmon River At Salmon Id | 2,940 cfs | → |
| Lemhi River Below L5 Diversion Near Salmon | 52 cfs | → |
| Napias Creek Below Arnett Creek Near Leesburg | 61 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Hirschy.
Boat launches
Campgrounds
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- Nf Boundary At 4th Of July Creek To Confluence With North Fork
- Salmon To North Fork
- Pattengail Ck. Sec. 11, T2s, R12w To Jaccobsen & Mono Cks, Sec. 33, T3s, R12w
- Proposed Torrey Peak Wilderness To Proposed Torrey Peak Wilderness
- Sec. 29, T.8s, R.13w To All Upstream Waters
- Nez Perce Fork Bitterroot River, Sec. 26, T1s, R22w To Painted Rocks Dam, Sec. 26, T1s, R22w
Track Hirschy 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 Hirschy
Where does the data for Hirschy 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 Hirschy.