Helena Valley Dike dam
Helena Valley Dike
Helena Valley Dike, located in Lewis and Clark County, Montana, is a Federal-owned structure managed by the Bureau of Reclamation for irrigation purposes. Completed in 1958, this earth dam stands at a height of 30 feet and has a storage capacity of 10,702 acre-feet. With a primary purpose of irrigation and water supply, the dam plays a crucial role in managing water resources in the region.
Despite its importance in water management, Helena Valley Dike poses a high hazard potential due to its condition assessment not being available. The dam has not been inspected since July 2020, highlighting the need for regular monitoring and maintenance to ensure its safety and effectiveness. The risk assessment for the structure is rated as high, emphasizing the importance of implementing risk management measures to mitigate potential hazards.
With its location in a high-risk area and limited information on its condition assessment, Helena Valley Dike serves as a reminder of the critical role that infrastructure plays in water resource management and the need for proactive measures to address potential risks and ensure the safety of communities and ecosystems 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 Helena Valley Dike -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Prickly Pear Creek Near Clancy Mt | 38 cfs | → |
| Missouri River Bl Hauser Lake Nr Helena Mt | 3,230 cfs | → |
| Tenmile Creek Near Helena Mt | 34 cfs | → |
| Tenmile Creek Near Rimini Mt | 23 cfs | → |
| Missouri River Bl Holter Dam Nr Wolf Cr Mt | 3,110 cfs | → |
| Little Prickly Pear Cr At Wolf Cr Mt | 88 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Helena Valley Dike.
Boat launches
- Helena Regulating Reservoir Road Lewis And Clark County
- Cross Drive Helena Valley Northeast
- York Road Lewis And Clark County
- Smith Road Helena Valley Northeast
- Devils Elbow Boat Ramp
Campgrounds
- Spokane Bay
- Devils Elbow Campground
- White Sandy Campground
- Black Sandy State Park
- White Sandy
- Fort Harrison Rv Military - National Guard
Fishing spots
- Helena Valley Regulating Reservoir
- Hauser Reservoir
- Prickly Pear Creek
- Spring Meadow Lake
- Missouri River Fishing Access Site
- Silver Creek
Track Helena Valley Dike 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 Helena Valley Dike
Where does the data for Helena Valley Dike 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 Helena Valley Dike.