Balder Reservoir is an earth dam located in McCone County, Montana, built in 1962. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification.
Dam profile
NID height · 28 ft28 ft tall and 400 ft long, taller than 62% of U.S. dams with a recorded height. Height is drawn to scale against a two-story house, about 25 ft; the profile is a generic embankment section and the water level is illustrative.
About Balder Reservoir
The primary purpose of Balder Reservoir is flood risk reduction. The dam is designed to control downstream flooding by temporarily storing excess water during storms and releasing it at a controlled rate. The dam is owned by Peter a Nykolayow (private). It impounds the U.p. Creek near Poplar.
The dam stands 28 feet tall and stretches 400 feet across, has a maximum storage capacity of 690 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 4 square miles. Completed in 1962, the structure is well into its service life at over 50 years old.
This dam has a significant hazard potential classification, meaning that a failure could cause significant economic damage — flooding roads, bridges, or property downstream — but is not expected to result in loss of life.
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Location
| State | Montana |
| County | McCone |
| Nearest City | Poplar |
| River/Stream | U.p. Creek |
| Coordinates | 48.04760, -105.56540 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 28 ft |
| Dam Height | 28 ft |
| Dam Length | 400 ft |
| Year Completed | 1962 (64 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 690 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 690 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 530 acre-ft |
| Drainage Area | 4 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 3,000 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | Peter a Nykolayow |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Not assessed |
| Emergency Action Plan | Not Required |
Identifiers
| NID ID | MT00926 |
| Federal ID | MT00926 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |