Lake Frances North Dam
Lake Frances North Dam is an earth dam located in Pondera County, Montana, built in 1909. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Lake Frances North Dam
The primary purpose of Lake Frances North Dam is irrigation. The dam stores and diverts water for agricultural irrigation, supporting farming operations in the surrounding area. The dam is owned by Pondera Canal & Res. Co. (private). It impounds the Offstream-birch Creek near Cut Bank.
The dam stands 22 feet tall and stretches 6,000 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 5,300 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 133,619 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 13 square miles. Completed in 1909, 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 10/04/2023.
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 | Pondera |
| Nearest City | Cut Bank |
| River/Stream | Offstream-birch Creek |
| Coordinates | 48.30787, -112.29050 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 22 ft |
| Dam Height | 22 ft |
| Dam Length | 6,000 ft |
| Year Completed | 1909 (117 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 133,619 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 133,619 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 110,500 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 5,300 acres |
| Drainage Area | 13 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 470 cfs |
| Spillway Type | None |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Irrigation |
| Owner | PONDERA CANAL & RES. CO. |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 10/04/2023 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | MT01484 |
| Federal ID | MT01484 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |