Fresno Dam
Fresno Dam is an earth dam located in Hill County, Montana, built in 1939. It carries a High hazard potential classification.
About Fresno Dam
The primary purpose of Fresno Dam is irrigation. The dam stores and diverts water for agricultural irrigation, supporting farming operations in the surrounding area. The dam is owned by Bureau Of Reclamation (federal). It impounds the Milk River near Havre.
The dam stands 111 feet tall and stretches 2,070 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 9,043 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 229,288 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 3,766 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. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 09/21/2022.
At 111 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 | Hill |
| Nearest City | Havre |
| River/Stream | Milk River |
| Coordinates | 48.59950, -109.94600 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 111 ft |
| Dam Height | 111 ft |
| Dam Length | 2,070 ft |
| Year Completed | 1939 (87 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 229,288 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 229,288 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 129,062 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 9,043 acres |
| Drainage Area | 3,766 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 51,000 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Irrigation |
| Owner | BUREAU OF RECLAMATION |
| Owner Type | Federal |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Not Available |
| Last Inspection | 09/21/2022 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | MT00570 |
| Federal ID | MT00570 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |