Hungry Horse dam
Hungry Horse
Hungry Horse is a federal-owned dam located in Flathead, Montana, along the South Fork Flathead River. Built in 1952 by the Bureau of Reclamation, it stands at an impressive 564 feet in height and serves multiple purposes, including flood risk reduction, hydroelectric power generation, and irrigation. With a maximum storage capacity of 3,588,000 acre-feet, the dam plays a crucial role in managing water resources in the region.
The dam's high hazard potential underscores the importance of regular inspections and emergency preparedness. While its condition assessment is currently listed as "Not Available," the Bureau of Reclamation is responsible for overseeing its regulation, inspection, and operation to ensure the safety and functionality of the structure. Hungry Horse Dam provides valuable flood control measures and water storage capacity, contributing to the overall management of the surrounding drainage area and ecosystem.
The dam's location in the Seattle District and association with the Bureau of Reclamation highlight its significance in water resource management. As climate change continues to impact water availability and extreme weather events, structures like Hungry Horse play a vital role in mitigating risks and providing essential services to the surrounding communities. The dam stands as a testament to human ingenuity in harnessing water resources for multiple benefits while also emphasizing the need for ongoing monitoring and maintenance to ensure its long-term viability.
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 Hungry Horse -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| S F Flathead River Nr Columbia Falls Mt | 8,060 cfs | → |
| Flathead River At Columbia Falls Mt | 26,900 cfs | → |
| Middle Fork Flathead River Nr West Glacier Mt | 8,680 cfs | → |
| N F Flathead River Nr Columbia Falls Mt | 9,950 cfs | → |
| Swan River Near Bigfork Mt | 3,740 cfs | → |
| S F Flathead R Ab Twin C Nr Hungry Horse Mt | 7,330 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Hungry Horse.
Boat launches
- National Forest Development Road 5301 Flathead County
- Hungry Horse
- Us 2 Columbia Falls
- National Forest Development Road 38 Flathead County
- Bayou Road Flathead County
- Apgar Flats Horse West Glacier
Campgrounds
- Doris Creek
- Doris Creek Campground
- Emery Bay
- Emery Bay Campground
- Lost Johnny Campground
- Lost Johnny Point Campground
Fishing spots
Track Hungry Horse 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 Hungry Horse
Where does the data for Hungry Horse 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 Hungry Horse.