Lobella Detention Dam dam
Lobella Detention Dam
Lobella Detention Dam, located in Glendive, Montana, serves multiple purposes, including fire protection, stock watering, and creating a small fish pond. Built in 1956 by the Bureau of Land Management, this gravity dam stands at a height of 21 feet and has a hydraulic height of 15 feet. With a storage capacity of 122.1 acre-feet and a surface area of 23.06 acres, Lobella Detention Dam plays a vital role in managing water resources in the area.
The dam, situated on Cedar Creek and the Yellowstone River, is primarily owned and managed by the Bureau of Land Management. Although categorized as having a low hazard potential, its condition assessment is marked as unsatisfactory, indicating the need for maintenance or repairs. Despite its moderate risk level, Lobella Detention Dam remains an essential structure for water resource management and climate resilience in the region. With its uncontrolled spillway type and a history of federal funding and oversight, Lobella Detention Dam stands as a reminder of the intricate balance between human development and environmental stewardship in water infrastructure projects.
As a key component of the water management system in Dawson County, Montana, Lobella Detention Dam underlines the importance of sustainable dam operations for both ecological and human needs. With the potential to be a focal point for water resource and climate enthusiasts, the dam's history, design, and purpose reflect the complex interplay between water infrastructure, regulatory agencies, and community resilience. As discussions around dam safety and maintenance continue, Lobella Detention Dam stands as a testament to the ongoing challenges and opportunities in managing water resources in a changing climate.
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 Lobella Detention Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Yellowstone River At Glendive Mt | 17,700 cfs | → |
| Beaver Creek Nr Trotters | 2 cfs | → |
| Powder River Near Locate Mt | 18 cfs | → |
| Little Missouri River At Medora | 43 cfs | → |
| Little Missouri River At Marmarth | 3 cfs | → |
| Deep Creek Nr Amidon | 0 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Lobella Detention Dam.
Campgrounds
- Rattlesnake Reservoir
- Oil Pump Reservoir
- Pine-On-The-Rock Campground
- Makoshika State Park
- Jaycee West City Park
- Glendive Campground
Paddle runs
- Southern Boundary Of The South Unit Of Theodore Roosevelt National Park To Northern Boundary Of The South Unit Of Theodore Roosevelt National Park
- Southern Boundary Of The Elkhorn Unit Of Theodore Roosevelt National Park To Northern Boundary Of The Elkhorn Unit Of Theodore Roosevelt National Park
Track Lobella Detention 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 Lobella Detention Dam
Where does the data for Lobella Detention 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 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 Lobella Detention Dam.