Ashley dam
Ashley
Ashley is a state-regulated dam located in Flathead, Montana, specifically in the city of KILA. Built in 1928, this Earth-type dam stands at a height of 10 feet with a hydraulic height of 7.5 feet, serving primarily for irrigation purposes on Ashley Creek. With a storage capacity of 27,600 acre-feet, this dam covers a surface area of 2,852 acres, providing essential water resources for the surrounding area.
Managed by the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation (DNRC), Ashley Dam has a low hazard potential and is currently rated as "Not Rated" in terms of condition assessment. The dam has undergone regular state inspections, with the last inspection conducted in May 2021. Despite its age, Ashley Dam continues to play a crucial role in water management and irrigation in the region, ensuring a stable water supply for agricultural activities and environmental conservation.
Located in Congressional District 00, Montana, Ashley Dam is a testament to the importance of proper water resource management in the face of changing climate conditions. With its historical significance and ongoing state oversight, Ashley Dam stands as a key infrastructure for sustainable water use and conservation efforts in the Flathead 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 Ashley -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Flathead River At Columbia Falls Mt | 34,600 cfs | → |
| Mill Cr Ab Bassoo Cr Nr Niarada Mt | 2 cfs | → |
| S F Flathead River Nr Columbia Falls Mt | 8,080 cfs | → |
| N F Flathead River Nr Columbia Falls Mt | 13,300 cfs | → |
| Swan River Near Bigfork Mt | 3,650 cfs | → |
| Fisher River Near Libby Mt | 850 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Ashley.
Boat launches
- North Ashley Lake Road Flathead County
- Flathead County
- Bayou Road Flathead County
- Whitefish Lake Park Boat Access
- Lakeside Boulevard Whitefish
- Lake County
Campgrounds
- Ashley Lake North Campground
- Ashley Lake North
- Ashley Lake South Campground
- Star Meadow Guard Station Cabin
- Sylvia Lake Campground
- Tally Lake
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- Glacier Rim To Blankenship Bridge And Confluence
- Big Creek To Glacier Rim
- West Glacier To Blankenship Bridge
- Moccasin Creek To West Glacier (John Stevens Canyon)
- Vermilion River
- Junction Of The Fisher River (Three Miles Sownstream Of Libby Dam) To Tub Gulch, Approximately Four Miles Upstream From The Town Of Libby, Montana
Track Ashley 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 Ashley
Where does the data for Ashley 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 Ashley.