Ester Lake (phillips) is an earth dam located in Phillips County, Montana, built in 1954. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification.
Dam profile
NID height · 17 ft17 ft tall and 600 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 Ester Lake (phillips)
The primary purpose of Ester Lake (phillips) 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.f.w.p. (state). It impounds the Big Warm Spring Creek near Saco.
The dam stands 17 feet tall and stretches 600 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 137 acres, and has a maximum storage capacity of 758 acre-feet. Completed in 1954, 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 | Phillips |
| Nearest City | Saco |
| River/Stream | Big Warm Spring Creek |
| Coordinates | 48.10158, -108.26148 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 17 ft |
| Dam Height | 17 ft |
| Dam Length | 600 ft |
| Year Completed | 1954 (72 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 758 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 758 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 390 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 137 acres |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Irrigation |
| Owner | State of Montana, D.f.w.p. |
| Owner Type | State |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Not assessed |
| Emergency Action Plan | Not Required |
Identifiers
| NID ID | MT01311 |
| Federal ID | MT01311 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |