Canyon Lake
Canyon Lake is a rockfill dam located in Ravalli County, Montana, built in 1891. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Canyon Lake
The primary purpose of Canyon Lake is irrigation. The dam stores and diverts water for agricultural irrigation, supporting farming operations in the surrounding area. The dam is owned by Canyon Creek Irrigation District (local government). It impounds the Canyon Creek near Hamilton.
The dam stands 21 feet tall and stretches 400 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 32 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 500 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 1 square miles. Completed in 1891, 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. 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 09/25/2019.
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 | Ravalli |
| Nearest City | Hamilton |
| River/Stream | Canyon Creek |
| Coordinates | 46.24510, -114.32820 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Rockfill |
| NID Height | 21 ft |
| Dam Height | 21 ft |
| Dam Length | 400 ft |
| Year Completed | 1891 (135 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 500 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 500 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 425 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 32 acres |
| Drainage Area | 1 sq mi |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Irrigation |
| Owner | CANYON CREEK IRRIGATION DISTRICT |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 09/25/2019 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | MT01173 |
| Federal ID | MT01173 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |