Kootenai Dvlpmnt Impoundment Dam

About Kootenai Dvlpmnt Impoundment Dam

Kootenai Dvlpmnt Impoundment Dam is a dam in Lincoln, Montana. The dam is owned by Kootenai Development Co. (private). It impounds the Rainy Creek near Libby.

The dam stands 151 feet tall and stretches 1,154 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 75 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 1,302 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 9 square miles. Completed in 1980, the structure is 46 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 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 10/25/2024.

At 151 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.

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