Jackson Lake is an earth dam located in Meagher County, Montana, built in 1936. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a unsatisfactory condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 32 ft32 ft tall and 391 ft long, taller than 74% of U.S. dams with a recorded height. Height is drawn to scale against a two-story house, about 25 ft; the profile is a generic embankment section and the water level is illustrative.
About Jackson Lake
The primary purpose of Jackson Lake is irrigation. The dam stores and diverts water for agricultural irrigation, supporting farming operations in the surrounding area. The dam is owned by Scott Jackson (private). It impounds the North Fork Woods Gulch Creek near White Sulphur Springs.
The dam stands 32 feet tall and stretches 391 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 36 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 490 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 5 square miles. Completed in 1936, 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 unsatisfactory, indicating serious safety deficiencies exist that require immediate attention or remedial action. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 04/08/2020.
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 | White Sulphur Springs |
| River/Stream | North Fork Woods Gulch Creek |
| Coordinates | 46.49940, -111.07813 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 32 ft |
| Dam Height | 32 ft |
| Dam Length | 391 ft |
| Year Completed | 1936 (90 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 490 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 490 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 372 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 36 acres |
| Drainage Area | 5 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 210 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Irrigation |
| Owner | Scott Jackson |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Unsatisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 04/08/2020 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | MT00053 |
| Federal ID | MT00053 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |