Whitetail Dam
Whitetail Dam is an earth dam located in Jefferson County, Montana, built in 1922. It carries a High hazard potential classification.
About Whitetail Dam
The primary purpose of Whitetail Dam is irrigation. The dam stores and diverts water for agricultural irrigation, supporting farming operations in the surrounding area. The dam is owned by Whitetail Water Users Assn (private). It impounds the Whitetail Creek near Whitehall.
The dam stands 28 feet tall and stretches 340 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 834 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 21,400 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 22 square miles. Completed in 1922, the structure is over a century old.
This dam carries a high hazard potential classification, which means that a failure or uncontrolled release of water would likely cause loss of human life. This classification reflects the consequences of failure, not the likelihood — it indicates that people live or work in the area downstream. Notably, no emergency action plan is currently on file for this high-hazard dam.
Living Downstream
If you live or work downstream of this dam, consider taking these steps: learn your local evacuation routes, check whether your county emergency management office has a dam failure inundation map, and sign up for local emergency alerts. The Montana dam safety program can provide more specific information about emergency planning for this structure.
Search for dams near your address to see all dams in your area with hazard classifications and safety data.
Location
| State | Montana |
| County | Jefferson |
| Nearest City | Whitehall |
| River/Stream | Whitetail Creek |
| Coordinates | 46.07289, -112.26173 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 28 ft |
| Dam Height | 28 ft |
| Dam Length | 340 ft |
| Year Completed | 1922 (104 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 21,400 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 21,400 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 7,564 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 834 acres |
| Drainage Area | 22 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 1,166 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Irrigation |
| Owner | WHITETAIL WATER USERS ASSN |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Not Rated |
| Emergency Action Plan | No |
Identifiers
| NID ID | MT00118 |
| Federal ID | MT00118 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |