Whitefish Sewage Lagoon dam
Whitefish Sewage Lagoon
The Whitefish Sewage Lagoon in Kalispell, Montana, is a crucial water resource infrastructure owned by the local government and regulated by the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation (DNRC). Completed in 1962, this Earth-type dam on the Whitefish River serves as a storage facility with a normal capacity of 90 acre-feet and a maximum storage of 106 acre-feet. Despite its low hazard potential, the dam's condition is currently not rated, prompting the need for further inspection and assessment.
Located in Flathead County, Montana, the Whitefish Sewage Lagoon plays a vital role in wastewater management and environmental protection in the region. With a dam height of 9 feet and a length of 3200 feet, this facility serves as a key component in the treatment and disposal of sewage. While the dam has not been modified in recent years and lacks specific hazard assessment and emergency preparedness measures, its operational significance underscores the importance of regular maintenance and monitoring to ensure public safety and water quality.
In the context of climate change and water resource management, the Whitefish Sewage Lagoon represents a critical infrastructure asset that requires ongoing attention and investment. As water resource and climate enthusiasts, it is essential to advocate for sustainable practices and policies that support the proper operation and maintenance of such facilities to safeguard both the environment and public health. With an emphasis on risk assessment, emergency preparedness, and regulatory compliance, the Whitefish Sewage Lagoon serves as a poignant example of the intersection between water resources, infrastructure resilience, and climate adaptation in a changing world.
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 Whitefish Sewage Lagoon -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Flathead River At Columbia Falls Mt | 30,400 cfs | → |
| N F Flathead River Nr Columbia Falls Mt | 11,600 cfs | → |
| S F Flathead River Nr Columbia Falls Mt | 8,190 cfs | → |
| Middle Fork Flathead River Nr West Glacier Mt | 10,300 cfs | → |
| Swan River Near Bigfork Mt | 3,940 cfs | → |
| Swiftcurrent Cr Ab Swiftcurrent Lk At Many Glacier | 113 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Whitefish Sewage Lagoon.
Boat launches
- Lakeside Boulevard Whitefish
- Whitefish Lake Park Boat Access
- Us 2 Columbia Falls
- Bayou Road Flathead County
- Hungry Horse
- Big Creek River Access Boating Site
Campgrounds
- Whitefish State Park
- Whitefish Lake State Park
- Tally Lake
- Tally Lake Campground
- Moose Lake Campground
- Moose Lake
Fishing spots
Track Whitefish Sewage Lagoon 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 Whitefish Sewage Lagoon
Where does the data for Whitefish Sewage Lagoon 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 Whitefish Sewage Lagoon.