Bearpaw Lake Dam
Bearpaw Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Hill County, Montana, built in 1958. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Bearpaw Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Bearpaw Lake Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by State Of Montana, D.f.w.p. (state). It impounds the Beaver Creek near Havre.
The dam stands 64 feet tall and stretches 380 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 35 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 1,005 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 50 square miles. Completed in 1958, 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 10/16/2024.
At 64 feet, this dam is taller than 96% 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 | Beaver Creek |
| Coordinates | 48.32800, -109.65870 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 64 ft |
| Dam Height | 64 ft |
| Dam Length | 380 ft |
| Year Completed | 1958 (68 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 1,005 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 1,005 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 616 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 35 acres |
| Drainage Area | 50 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 398 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | STATE OF MONTANA, D.F.W.P. |
| Owner Type | State |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 10/16/2024 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | MT00115 |
| Federal ID | MT00115 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |