Taylor, Upper
Taylor, Upper is an earth dam located in Powell County, Montana, built in 1951. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Taylor, Upper
The primary purpose of Taylor, Upper is irrigation. The dam stores and diverts water for agricultural irrigation, supporting farming operations in the surrounding area. The dam is owned by State Of Montana, D.o.c. (state). It impounds the Taylor Creek near Deer Lodge.
The dam stands 43 feet tall and stretches 680 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 19 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 372 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 6 square miles. Completed in 1951, the structure is well into its service life at over 50 years 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. Its condition is rated satisfactory, indicating no existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 06/14/2024.
At 43 feet, this dam is taller than 89% of dams nationwide.
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 | Powell |
| Nearest City | Deer Lodge |
| River/Stream | Taylor Creek |
| Coordinates | 46.40860, -112.83690 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 43 ft |
| Dam Height | 43 ft |
| Dam Length | 680 ft |
| Year Completed | 1951 (75 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 372 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 372 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 296 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 19 acres |
| Drainage Area | 6 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 700 cfs |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Irrigation |
| Owner | STATE OF MONTANA, D.O.C. |
| Owner Type | State |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 06/14/2024 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | MT01137 |
| Federal ID | MT01137 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |