Gartside
Gartside is an earth dam located in Richland County, Montana, built in 1962. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Gartside
The primary purpose of Gartside is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by State Of Montana, D.f.w.p. (state). It impounds the Crane Creek near Crane.
The dam stands 31 feet tall and stretches 1,350 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 41 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 872 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 32 square miles. Completed in 1962, the structure is well into its service life at over 50 years 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. Its condition is rated satisfactory, indicating no existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 09/26/2023.
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 | Richland |
| Nearest City | Crane |
| River/Stream | Crane Creek |
| Coordinates | 47.58530, -104.27100 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 31 ft |
| Dam Height | 31 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,350 ft |
| Year Completed | 1962 (64 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 872 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 872 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 326 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 41 acres |
| Drainage Area | 32 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 13,040 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | STATE OF MONTANA, D.F.W.P. |
| Owner Type | State |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 09/26/2023 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | MT00349 |
| Federal ID | MT00349 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |