Lower Baker Dam is an earth dam located in Fallon County, Montana, built in 1908. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 23 ft23 ft tall and 1,000 ft long. 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 Lower Baker Dam
The primary purpose of Lower Baker Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Fallon County (local government). It impounds the Sandstone Creek near Baker.
The dam stands 23 feet tall and stretches 1,000 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 120 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 1,250 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 1 square miles. Completed in 1908, 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 06/03/2020.
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 | Fallon |
| Nearest City | Baker |
| River/Stream | Sandstone Creek |
| Coordinates | 46.36554, -104.27425 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 23 ft |
| Dam Height | 23 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,000 ft |
| Year Completed | 1908 (118 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 1,250 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 1,250 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 320 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 120 acres |
| Drainage Area | 1 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 680 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Fallon County |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 06/03/2020 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | MT01263 |
| Federal ID | MT01263 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |