Bell Lake Dam
Bell Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Madison County, Montana, built in 1957. It carries a High hazard potential classification.
About Bell Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Bell Lake Dam is irrigation. The dam stores and diverts water for agricultural irrigation, supporting farming operations in the surrounding area. The dam is owned by Farrell And Rice (private). It impounds the Tr- Willow Creek S near Harrison.
The dam stands 20 feet tall and stretches 120 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 30 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 590 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 1 square miles. Completed in 1957, 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. 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 | Madison |
| Nearest City | Harrison |
| River/Stream | Tr- Willow Creek S |
| Coordinates | 45.53618, -112.00107 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 20 ft |
| Dam Height | 20 ft |
| Dam Length | 120 ft |
| Year Completed | 1957 (69 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 590 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 590 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 450 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 30 acres |
| Drainage Area | 1 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 550 cfs |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Irrigation |
| Owner | Farrell And Rice |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Not Available |
| Emergency Action Plan | No |
Identifiers
| NID ID | MT00834 |
| Federal ID | MT00834 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |