West Alkali Reservoir is an earth dam located in Phillips County, Montana, built in 1902. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification.
Dam profile
NID height · 25 ft25 ft tall and 504 ft long, taller than 50% 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 West Alkali Reservoir
The primary purpose of West Alkali Reservoir is irrigation. The dam stores and diverts water for agricultural irrigation, supporting farming operations in the surrounding area. The dam is owned by G Milk River Land & Cattle Co (private). It impounds the West Alkali Creek near Malta.
The dam stands 25 feet tall and stretches 504 feet across, has a maximum storage capacity of 1,941 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 16 square miles. Completed in 1902, the structure is over a century 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 | Malta |
| River/Stream | West Alkali Creek |
| Coordinates | 48.20160, -108.07590 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 25 ft |
| Dam Height | 25 ft |
| Dam Length | 504 ft |
| Year Completed | 1902 (124 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 1,941 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 1,941 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 1,150 acre-ft |
| Drainage Area | 16 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 150 cfs |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Irrigation |
| Owner | G Milk River Land & Cattle Co |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Not assessed |
| Emergency Action Plan | Not Required |
Identifiers
| NID ID | MT01334 |
| Federal ID | MT01334 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |