Crow
Crow is an earth dam located in Lake County, Montana, built in 1933. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
About Crow
The primary purpose of Crow is irrigation. The dam stores and diverts water for agricultural irrigation, supporting farming operations in the surrounding area. The dam is owned by Bia (federal). It impounds the Crow Creek.
The dam stands 99 feet tall and stretches 900 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 368 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 12,200 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 176 square miles. Completed in 1933, 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. Its condition is rated poor, meaning the dam has recognized safety deficiencies that require remediation to address risks. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 09/01/2022.
At 99 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 | Lake |
| Nearest City | None |
| River/Stream | Crow Creek |
| Coordinates | 47.50240, -114.22840 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 99 ft |
| Dam Height | 81 ft |
| Dam Length | 900 ft |
| Year Completed | 1933 (93 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 12,200 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 12,200 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 9,938 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 368 acres |
| Drainage Area | 176 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 14,757 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Irrigation |
| Owner | BIA |
| Owner Type | Federal |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 09/01/2022 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | MT00593 |
| Federal ID | MT00593 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |