Gipsy Lake Dam dam
Gipsy Lake Dam
Gipsy Lake Dam, located in Meagher, Montana, was completed in 1872 and is primarily used for irrigation purposes. Managed by the USDA Forest Service, this earth dam stands at a height of 9 feet and has a storage capacity of 51 acre-feet. The dam overlooks the Gipsy Creek and covers a surface area of 8 acres, serving as a vital source of water for the surrounding agricultural lands.
Despite being rated as having a low hazard potential, Gipsy Lake Dam is subject to regular inspections, with the last one conducted in July 2016. The dam's spillway is uncontrolled, with a width of 2 feet, and the outlet gates are also uncontrolled. With a drainage area of 3.47 square miles, the dam plays a crucial role in managing water resources in the region. It is an essential structure for both irrigation and recreational purposes.
Although Gipsy Lake Dam has a moderate risk assessment rating of 3, there are no specific risk management measures outlined for the dam. With its historical significance and continued importance for water management in the area, the dam stands as a testament to the enduring relationship between water resources and climate in Montana.
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 Gipsy Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Smith River Near Ft Logan Mt | 201 cfs | → |
| Smith River Bl Eagle Cr Nr Fort Logan Mt | 404 cfs | → |
| Missouri River At Toston Mt | 3,890 cfs | → |
| Prickly Pear Creek Near Clancy Mt | 37 cfs | → |
| Missouri River Bl Hauser Lake Nr Helena Mt | 3,230 cfs | → |
| South Fork Musselshell R Ab Martinsdale Mt | 43 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Gipsy Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- West Loop Broadwater County
- East Shore Drive Lewis And Clark County
- Canyon Ferry Road 7604, Lewis And Clark County
- Canyon Ferry Road Lewis And Clark County
- Lower Toston Dam Boat Ramp
- Upper Toston Dam Boat Ramp
Campgrounds
Fishing spots
- Duck Creek (Upper Missouri Drainage)
- Deep Creek (Upper Missouri Drainage)
- Canyon Ferry Lake
- Newlan Reservoir
- Newlan Creek
- Battle Creek
Track Gipsy Lake 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 Gipsy Lake Dam
Where does the data for Gipsy Lake 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 Gipsy Lake Dam.