South Fourche Lafave Wid Site 3

About South Fourche Lafave Wid Site 3

The primary purpose of South Fourche Lafave Wid Site 3 is flood risk reduction. The dam is designed to control downstream flooding by temporarily storing excess water during storms and releasing it at a controlled rate. The dam is owned by Fourche La Fave Watershed Improvement District (local government). It impounds the Little Bear Creek.

The dam stands 105 feet tall and stretches 1,175 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 36 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 6,415 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 7 square miles. Completed in 1981, the structure is 45 years old.

This dam has a significant hazard potential classification, meaning that a failure could cause significant economic damage — flooding roads, bridges, or property downstream — but is not expected to result in loss of life. Its condition is rated poor, meaning the dam has recognized safety deficiencies that require remediation to address risks. The most recent inspection on record was 11/21/2024.

At 105 feet, this dam is taller than 98% of all dams in the United States.

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