Nelson Dike Da
Nelson Dike Da is an earth dam located in Phillips County, Montana, built in 1915. It carries a High hazard potential classification.
About Nelson Dike Da
The primary purpose of Nelson Dike Da 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 Os near Saco.
The dam stands 28 feet tall and stretches 5,625 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 4,560 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 79,224 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 35 square miles. Completed in 1915, the structure is over a century 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. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 09/20/2022.
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 | Phillips |
| Nearest City | Saco |
| River/Stream | Milk River Os |
| Coordinates | 48.52380, -107.51960 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 28 ft |
| Dam Height | 21 ft |
| Dam Length | 5,625 ft |
| Year Completed | 1915 (111 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 79,224 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 79,224 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 79,224 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 4,560 acres |
| Drainage Area | 35 sq mi |
| Spillway Type | None |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Irrigation |
| Owner | BUREAU OF RECLAMATION |
| Owner Type | Federal |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Not Available |
| Last Inspection | 09/20/2022 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | MT00574 |
| Federal ID | MT00574 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |