Dams in Montana

%!s(int=2986)Total Dams
190High Hazard
192Significant
2602Low Hazard

Dam Safety in Montana

Montana has 2,986 dams tracked in the National Inventory of Dams. Of these, 190 (6%) are classified as high hazard — meaning failure would probably cause loss of human life — and 192 are classified as significant hazard. Currently, 132 dams in the state have a condition assessment of poor or unsatisfactory, indicating recognized safety deficiencies.

The average dam in Montana is 74 years old. As dams age, inspection frequency and maintenance become increasingly important for ensuring public safety. The most common purpose for dams in Montana is fire protection, stock, or small fish pond, accounting for 1,829 of the state's dams.

Use the search above to find dams near any address in Montana, or browse by county below. Each dam listing includes its hazard potential classification, condition assessment, physical characteristics, and inspection history from the NID.

Montana Dam Facts

Total Dams2,986
High Hazard Dams190
Average Dam Age74 years
Tallest Dam570 ft
Largest Reservoir19,100,000 acre-ft
Poor/Unsatisfactory Condition132

Notable Dams in Montana

Counties in Montana

High Hazard Dams in Montana

DamCountyHeightConditionPurpose
Yankee Doodle Tailings DamSilver Bow570 ftSatisfactoryOther
Hungry Horse DamFlathead564 ftNot AvailableFlood Risk Reduction
Yellowtail DamBig Horn525 ftNot Available
Libby DamLincoln422 ftNot AvailableHydroelectric
Noxon RapidsSanders260 ftFairHydroelectric
Fort Peck DamMcCone256 ftNot AvailableFlood Risk Reduction
Canyon Ferry DamLewis and Clark225 ftNot AvailableFlood Risk Reduction
Swift (pondera)Pondera205 ftSatisfactoryIrrigation
Selis Ksanka Qlispe (skq)Lake200 ftFairHydroelectric
Gibson DamTeton199 ftNot AvailableIrrigation
Kootenai Dvlpmnt Impoundment DamLincoln151 ftPoorOther
Clark Canyon DamBeaverhead148 ftNot AvailableFlood Risk Reduction
West Fork Bitterroot (painted Rocks)Ravalli143 ftPoorIrrigation
Willow CreekBig Horn136 ftFairIrrigation
Sun River Diversion DamTeton132 ftNot AvailableIrrigation
Newlan Creek DamMeagher131 ftPoorIrrigation
HubbartFlathead130 ftPoorIrrigation
Hauser DamLewis and Clark125 ftSatisfactoryHydroelectric
Holter DamLewis and Clark124 ftSatisfactoryHydroelectric
Hebgen DamGallatin120 ftSatisfactoryHydroelectric
Ruby DamMadison111 ftSatisfactoryIrrigation
Fresno DamHill111 ftNot AvailableIrrigation
Lake Sherburne DamGlacier109 ftNot AvailableIrrigation
Beaver Creek Reservoir DamHill108 ftFairIrrigation
MoronyCascade107 ftSatisfactoryHydroelectric
BairMeagher106 ftSatisfactoryIrrigation
Nevada Creek DamPowell105 ftSatisfactoryIrrigation
CochraneCascade105 ftFairHydroelectric
Willow Creek DamMadison105 ftPoorIrrigation
CooneyCarbon102 ftPoorIrrigation
Basin Creek Dam #1Silver Bow101 ftSatisfactoryWater Supply
CrowLake99 ftPoorIrrigation
MissionLake98 ftFairIrrigation
Lower Willow Creek DamGranite96 ftPoorIrrigation
Tongue River DamBig Horn93 ftSatisfactoryIrrigation
Cedar CreekFlathead93 ftSatisfactoryWater Supply
East Fork DamFergus93 ftSatisfactoryRecreation
Martinsdale, North DamWheatland91 ftSatisfactoryIrrigation
North Fork Of Smith River DamMeagher91 ftSatisfactoryIrrigation
Colstrip Evaporation Pond DamRosebud88 ftSatisfactoryOther
Bullhook DamHill87 ftSatisfactoryFlood Risk Reduction
RyanCascade82 ftSatisfactoryHydroelectric
Pike Creek DamFergus81 ftSatisfactoryRecreation
Cataract Creek DamMadison80 ftUnsatisfactoryIrrigation
Box Elder Creek DamSheridan80 ftSatisfactoryRecreation
Big Casino Creek DamFergus80 ftSatisfactoryIrrigation
Bullhook Lower DiversionHill77 ftSatisfactoryFlood Risk Reduction
PetroliaPetroleum76 ftPoorIrrigation
Como DamRavalli76 ftNot AvailableIrrigation
East ForkHill76 ftSatisfactoryRecreation
Black LakeMissoula75 ftUnsatisfactoryRecreation
Browns DamHill73 ftNot RatedIrrigation
Hanson Creek DamFergus72 ftSatisfactoryRecreation
Three Mile Reservoir (l.&c.)Lewis and Clark70 ftPoorIrrigation
Lower Two MedicineGlacier70 ftSatisfactoryIrrigation
Sullivan DamToole68 ftSatisfactoryFlood Risk Reduction
Castle Rock Reservoir DamRosebud67 ftSatisfactoryOther
Moulton Creek Dam #1Silver Bow67 ftSatisfactoryWater Supply
Tiber DikeLiberty65 ftNot Available
Cowpath DamToole65 ftSatisfactoryFlood Risk Reduction
Bearpaw Lake DamHill64 ftSatisfactoryRecreation
Bynum Reservoir DamTeton60 ftSatisfactoryIrrigation
Deadmans Basin DamWheatland60 ftSatisfactoryIrrigation
Delmoe Lake DamJefferson60 ftPoorIrrigation
Tabor SouthLake60 ftPoorRecreation
Flower Creek DamLincoln59 ftSatisfactoryWater Supply
Lake Frances East DamPondera59 ftSatisfactoryIrrigation
Scott Coulee DamHill58 ftSatisfactoryFlood Risk Reduction
Chessman Main DamLewis and Clark57 ftFairWater Supply
Glacier Lake North DamCarbon57 ftSatisfactoryIrrigation
LimaBeaverhead56 ftSatisfactoryIrrigation
Ackley Lake DamJudith Basin55 ftSatisfactoryIrrigation
Georgetown DamDeer Lodge55 ftSatisfactoryHydroelectric
Nilan North DamLewis and Clark54 ftSatisfactoryIrrigation
Swift Dike (pondera)Pondera53 ftSatisfactoryIrrigation
PowellPowell52 ftPoorIrrigation
Big Sky DamMadison52 ftSatisfactoryRecreation
Nilan East DamLewis and Clark51 ftSatisfactoryIrrigation
JockoMissoula51 ftPoorIrrigation
Doggett ReservoirMeagher50 ftFairIrrigation
Broadwater DamBroadwater50 ftSatisfactoryHydroelectric
Four HornsGlacier50 ftSatisfactoryIrrigation
Martinsdale, East DamWheatland49 ftPoorIrrigation
McdonaldLake47 ftSatisfactoryIrrigation
Green Hollow Creek DamMadison45 ftSatisfactoryRecreation
Colstrip Diversion DamRosebud44 ftSatisfactoryOther
RainbowCascade44 ftSatisfactoryHydroelectric
Lake CreekLincoln44 ftSatisfactoryHydroelectric
Taylor, UpperPowell43 ftSatisfactoryIrrigation
Anita DamBlaine42 ftFairIrrigation
Burnt Fork DamRavalli42 ftNot RatedIrrigation
Depression Detention DamCarbon42 ftPoorFlood Risk Reduction
Black EagleCascade41 ftPoorHydroelectric
NinepipeLake41 ftFairIrrigation
Olson, Oscar (meagher)Meagher40 ftSatisfactoryIrrigation
Upper Dry ForkSanders40 ftUnsatisfactoryIrrigation
Dry Blood Creek DamPetroleum40 ftFairFlood Risk Reduction
Cottonwood Dam (park)Park39 ftPoorIrrigation
Madison DamMadison39 ftSatisfactoryHydroelectric
Jordan DamPark38 ftPoorIrrigation