Thompson Falls - Intake Dam a is a gravity dam located in Sanders County, Montana, built in 1915. It carries a Low hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 62 ft62 ft tall and 292 ft long, taller than 95% of U.S. dams with a recorded height. Height is drawn to scale against a ten-story building, about 100 ft; the profile is a generic concrete gravity section and the water level is illustrative.
About Thompson Falls - Intake Dam a
The primary purpose of Thompson Falls - Intake Dam a is hydroelectric. The dam generates hydroelectric power by channeling water through turbines, converting the energy of flowing water into electricity. The dam is owned by Northwestern Energy (private). It impounds the Clark Fork River, Pend Oreille.
The dam stands 62 feet tall and stretches 292 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 1,580 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 24,450 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 21,113 square miles. Completed in 1915, the structure is over a century old.
This dam has a low hazard potential classification, meaning that failure would cause minimal damage, limited primarily to the dam owner's property, with no expected loss of life. 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 08/31/2021.
At 62 feet, this dam is taller than 95% of all dams in the United States.
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Location
| State | Montana |
| County | Sanders |
| Nearest City | None |
| River/Stream | Clark Fork River, Pend Oreille |
| Coordinates | 47.59380, -115.35990 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Gravity |
| NID Height | 62 ft |
| Dam Height | 62 ft |
| Dam Length | 292 ft |
| Year Completed | 1915 (111 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 24,450 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 24,450 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 14,970 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 1,580 acres |
| Drainage Area | 21,113 sq mi |
| Spillway Type | None |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Hydroelectric |
| Owner | Northwestern Energy |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | Low |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 08/31/2021 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | MT00224 |
| Federal ID | MT00224S002 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |