Double N Ranch dam
Double N Ranch
The Double N Ranch in Libby, Montana is a private recreation area that features a significant earth dam constructed in 1965. This dam, located on Getner Creek, stands at 16 feet tall and has a storage capacity of 650 acre-feet, with a normal storage level of 600 acre-feet. The ranch offers a picturesque setting for outdoor enthusiasts, with opportunities for activities like fishing, hiking, and wildlife viewing.
This dam, with a hazard potential classified as significant, is regulated by the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation (DNRC). While the condition of the dam is currently not rated, it undergoes regular inspections, enforcement, and permitting to ensure the safety and integrity of the structure. The surrounding area, including the city of Libby and the Congressional District 00 in Montana, is managed and monitored to mitigate any potential risks associated with the dam.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Double N Ranch provides a fascinating case study of a privately owned recreational area with a dam structure that plays a crucial role in water storage and management. The ranch's location in the scenic Lincoln County, Montana, offers a unique opportunity to observe the intersection of human-built infrastructure and natural landscapes, highlighting the importance of sustainable water resource management practices 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 Double N Ranch -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Fisher River Near Libby Mt | 850 cfs | → |
| Kootenai River Bl Libby Dam Nr Libby Mt | 10,200 cfs | → |
| Clark Fork River Below Cabinet Gorge Dam Id | 62,900 cfs | → |
| Yaak River Near Troy Mt | 2,400 cfs | → |
| Lightning Creek At Clark Fork Id | 1,130 cfs | → |
| Kootenai River At Leonia Id | 17,100 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Double N Ranch.
Boat launches
- Osprey Landing
- City Service Road Libby
- Lincoln County
- Dorr Skeels Road Lincoln County
- National Forest Development Road 333 Lincoln County
- Logan State Park Montana
Campgrounds
- Volunteer Firemans Memorial Park - Libby
- Volunteer Fire Dept Campgrouns
- Howard Lake
- Blackwell Flats Campground
- Blackwell Flats
- Dunn Creek Campground
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- Junction Of The Fisher River (Three Miles Sownstream Of Libby Dam) To Tub Gulch, Approximately Four Miles Upstream From The Town Of Libby, Montana
- Middle Fork Bull River, Sec. 9, T28n, R33w To Proposed Addition To Cabinet Mtns Wilderness, Sec. 12, T28n, R33w
- North Fork Bull River, Sec. 32, T29n, R32w To Proposed Cabinet Mtns Wilderness Boundary, Sec. 1, T28n, R32w
- East Fork Bull River, Headwaters, Sec. 13, T27n, R32w To Cabinet Mountains Wilderness Boundary, Sec. 3, T27n, R32w
- 10 Miles From Tub Gulch To Quartz Creek To 10 Miles From Tub Gulch To Quartz Creek
- Cabinet Mtns Wilderness Boundary, Sec. 3, T27n, R32w To Bull River, Sec. 12, T27n, R33w
Track Double N Ranch 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 Double N Ranch
Where does the data for Double N Ranch 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 Significant 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 Double N Ranch.