Bair
Bair is an earth dam located in Meagher County, Montana, built in 1939. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Bair
The primary purpose of Bair 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 North Fork Musselshell Ri near Checkerboard.
The dam stands 106 feet tall and stretches 580 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 279 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 12,475 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 51 square miles. Completed in 1939, the structure is well-established, with more than 75 years of service.
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 satisfactory, indicating no existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 10/24/2024.
At 106 feet, this dam is taller than 98% 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 | Meagher |
| Nearest City | Checkerboard |
| River/Stream | North Fork Musselshell Ri |
| Coordinates | 46.57900, -110.55860 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 106 ft |
| Dam Height | 106 ft |
| Dam Length | 580 ft |
| Year Completed | 1939 (87 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 12,475 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 12,475 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 7,300 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 279 acres |
| Drainage Area | 51 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 7,880 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Irrigation |
| Owner | STATE WATER PROJECTS |
| Owner Type | State |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 10/24/2024 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | MT00006 |
| Federal ID | MT00006 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |