Black Coulee Dam
Black Coulee Dam is an earth dam located in Blaine County, Montana, built in 1938. It carries a Low hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
About Black Coulee Dam
The primary purpose of Black Coulee Dam is fish and wildlife pond. The dam creates habitat for fish and wildlife, supporting local ecosystems and potentially serving conservation goals. The dam is owned by Us Fish And Wildlife Service (federal). It impounds the West Branch Black Coulee.
The dam stands 11 feet tall and stretches 1,330 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 173 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 1,398 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 12 square miles. Completed in 1938, the structure is well-established, with more than 75 years of service.
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 poor, meaning the dam has recognized safety deficiencies that require remediation to address risks. The most recent inspection on record was 09/25/2012. That was over 13 years ago.
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Location
| State | Montana |
| County | Blaine |
| River/Stream | West Branch Black Coulee |
| Coordinates | 48.69833, -108.39333 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 11 ft |
| Dam Height | 11 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,330 ft |
| Year Completed | 1938 (88 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 1,398 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 1,398 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 581 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 173 acres |
| Drainage Area | 12 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 2,010 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Fish and Wildlife Pond |
| Owner | US FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE |
| Owner Type | Federal |
| Hazard Classification | Low |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 09/25/2012 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Not Required |
Identifiers
| NID ID | MT00627 |
| Federal ID | MT00627 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |