Scott Coulee Dam
Scott Coulee Dam is an earth dam located in Hill County, Montana, built in 1955. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Scott Coulee Dam
The primary purpose of Scott Coulee Dam is flood risk reduction. The dam is designed to control downstream flooding by temporarily storing excess water during storms and releasing it at a controlled rate. The dam is owned by City Of Havre (local government). It impounds the Scott Coulee near Havre.
The dam stands 58 feet tall and stretches 1,700 feet across, and has a maximum storage capacity of 3,570 acre-feet. Completed in 1955, the structure is well into its service life at over 50 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 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 08/19/2020.
At 58 feet, this dam is taller than 95% 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 | Hill |
| Nearest City | Havre |
| River/Stream | Scott Coulee |
| Coordinates | 48.52867, -109.68984 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 58 ft |
| Dam Height | 58 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,700 ft |
| Year Completed | 1955 (71 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 3,570 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 3,570 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 1,330 acre-ft |
| Max Discharge | 377 cfs |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | CITY OF HAVRE |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 08/19/2020 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | MT00103 |
| Federal ID | MT00103 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |