Cedar Creek
Cedar Creek is an earth dam located in Flathead County, Montana, built in 1971. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Cedar Creek
The primary purpose of Cedar Creek is water supply. The dam stores water for municipal, industrial, or agricultural use, helping ensure a reliable supply for the surrounding area. The dam is owned by City Of Columbia Falls (local government). It impounds the Cedar Creek near Columbia Falls.
The dam stands 93 feet tall and stretches 1,220 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 31 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 2,720 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 12 square miles. Completed in 1971, 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 07/24/2020.
At 93 feet, this dam is taller than 98% of all dams in the United States.
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 | Flathead |
| Nearest City | Columbia Falls |
| River/Stream | Cedar Creek |
| Coordinates | 48.41350, -114.14505 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 93 ft |
| Dam Height | 86 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,220 ft |
| Year Completed | 1971 (55 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 2,720 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 2,720 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 1,990 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 31 acres |
| Drainage Area | 12 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 2,150 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Water Supply |
| Owner | CITY OF COLUMBIA FALLS |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 07/24/2020 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | MT01455 |
| Federal ID | MT01455 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |