Frenchman Dam
Frenchman Dam is an earth dam located in Phillips County, Montana, built in 1953. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification.
About Frenchman Dam
The primary purpose of Frenchman Dam is irrigation. The dam stores and diverts water for agricultural irrigation, supporting farming operations in the surrounding area. The dam is owned by State Water Projects (state). It impounds the Frenchman Creek near Saco.
The dam stands 63 feet tall and stretches 2,100 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 800 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 13,540 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 2,460 square miles. Completed in 1953, the structure is well into its service life at over 50 years old.
This dam has a significant hazard potential classification, meaning that a failure could cause significant economic damage — flooding roads, bridges, or property downstream — but is not expected to result in loss of life. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 10/17/2022.
At 63 feet, this dam is taller than 96% of all dams in the United States.
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Location
| State | Montana |
| County | Phillips |
| Nearest City | Saco |
| River/Stream | Frenchman Creek |
| Coordinates | 48.95878, -107.22470 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 63 ft |
| Dam Height | 63 ft |
| Dam Length | 2,100 ft |
| Year Completed | 1953 (73 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 13,540 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 13,540 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 3,752 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 800 acres |
| Drainage Area | 2,460 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 36,000 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Irrigation |
| Owner | STATE WATER PROJECTS |
| Owner Type | State |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Last Inspection | 10/17/2022 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | MT00003 |
| Federal ID | MT00003 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |