Canyon Ferry Dam
Canyon Ferry Dam is a concrete dam located in Lewis and Clark County, Montana, built in 1954. It carries a High hazard potential classification.
About Canyon Ferry Dam
The primary purpose of Canyon Ferry Dam 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 Bureau Of Reclamation (federal). It impounds the Missouri River near Canyon Ferry.
The dam stands 225 feet tall and stretches 1,000 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 34,435 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 2,051,000 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 15,904 square miles. Completed in 1954, 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. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 09/08/2020.
At 225 feet, this dam is taller than 99% of all dams in the United States.
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 | Lewis and Clark |
| Nearest City | Canyon Ferry |
| River/Stream | Missouri River |
| Coordinates | 46.64860, -111.72810 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Concrete |
| NID Height | 225 ft |
| Dam Height | 225 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,000 ft |
| Year Completed | 1954 (72 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 2,051,000 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 2,051,000 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 1,947,000 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 34,435 acres |
| Drainage Area | 15,904 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 150,000 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Controlled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | BUREAU OF RECLAMATION |
| Owner Type | Federal |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Not Available |
| Last Inspection | 09/08/2020 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | MT00568 |
| Federal ID | MT00568 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |