Upper Dry Fork dam
Upper Dry Fork
Upper Dry Fork is a federally owned earth dam located in Sanders, Montana, managed by the Bureau of Indian Affairs. Built in 1940, this dam stands at a structural height of 40 feet and stretches 2000 feet in length. It serves the primary purpose of controlling the Dry Fork river stream, with a storage capacity of 2815 acre-feet.
The dam's spillway type is controlled, and it has a high hazard potential with a very high risk assessment rating. Despite being in operation for many years, the last inspection was conducted in June 2011, indicating a potential need for further assessments and maintenance. The emergency action plan (EAP) was last revised in March 2015, with no available information on whether it meets guidelines or includes updated inundation maps.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Upper Dry Fork presents an intriguing case study in dam management and risk assessment. The dam's critical role in controlling the Dry Fork river stream highlights the importance of regular inspections and maintenance to ensure public safety and water resource management. Further research and attention to the dam's condition and emergency preparedness may be necessary to mitigate potential risks and ensure the long-term sustainability of this vital infrastructure.
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 Upper Dry Fork -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Mill Cr Ab Bassoo Cr Nr Niarada Mt | 2 cfs | → |
| Flathead River Near Polson Mt | 24,600 cfs | → |
| Clark Fork Near Plains Mt | 38,100 cfs | → |
| Flathead River At Perma Mt | 25,300 cfs | → |
| Thompson River Near Thompson Falls Mt | 556 cfs | → |
| Prospect Creek At Thompson Falls Mt | 274 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Upper Dry Fork.
Boat launches
- Elmo Fishing Access
- Lake County
- Point Salish Park
- Logan State Park Montana
- Us 93 7198, Flathead County
- Flathead County
Campgrounds
- Big Arm State Park
- Lake Mary Ronan State Park
- Bend Guard Station
- Big Hole Lookout
- West Fork Fishtrap Creek
- Mcgregor Lake
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- Cuttoff, Sec. 9, T18n, R27w To Sec. 34, T19n, R25w
- Vermilion River
- Slowery, Sec. 15, T17n, R27w To Sec. 31, T18n. R28w
- Willow Creek, Sec. 32, T24n, R29w To Noxon Reservoir, Sec. 14, T24n, R31w
- Alberton Gorge (St. John To Forrest Grove)
- East Fork Bull River, Headwaters, Sec. 13, T27n, R32w To Cabinet Mountains Wilderness Boundary, Sec. 3, T27n, R32w
Track Upper Dry Fork 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 Upper Dry Fork
Where does the data for Upper Dry Fork 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 Upper Dry Fork.