Storm Lake Dam
Storm Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Deer Lodge County, Montana, built in 1898. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
About Storm Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Storm 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 Butte-silver Bow (local government). It impounds the Storm Lake Creek near Anaconda.
The dam stands 29 feet tall and stretches 500 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 78 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 2,150 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 1 square miles. Completed in 1898, 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. Its condition is rated poor, meaning the dam has recognized safety deficiencies that require remediation to address risks. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 09/16/2024.
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 | Deer Lodge |
| Nearest City | Anaconda |
| River/Stream | Storm Lake Creek |
| Coordinates | 46.07450, -113.26775 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 29 ft |
| Dam Height | 29 ft |
| Dam Length | 500 ft |
| Year Completed | 1898 (128 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 2,150 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 2,150 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 1,890 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 78 acres |
| Drainage Area | 1 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 520 cfs |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Irrigation |
| Owner | BUTTE-SILVER BOW |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 09/16/2024 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | MT01357 |
| Federal ID | MT01357 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |