Browns Dam
Browns Dam is an earth dam located in Hill County, Montana, built in 2007. It carries a High hazard potential classification.
About Browns Dam
The primary purpose of Browns Dam is irrigation. The dam stores and diverts water for agricultural irrigation, supporting farming operations in the surrounding area. The dam is owned by Bia (federal). It impounds the Big Sandy Creek - Tr near Beaver Creek.
The dam stands 73 feet tall and stretches 990 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 43 acres, and has a maximum storage capacity of 1,142 acre-feet. Completed in 2007, the structure is relatively new.
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. Notably, no emergency action plan is currently on file for this high-hazard dam.
At 73 feet, this dam is taller than 97% 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 | Hill |
| Nearest City | Beaver Creek |
| River/Stream | Big Sandy Creek - Tr |
| Coordinates | 48.31633, -109.97003 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 73 ft |
| Dam Height | 55 ft |
| Dam Length | 990 ft |
| Year Completed | 2007 (19 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 1,142 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 1,142 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 768 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 43 acres |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Irrigation |
| Owner | BIA |
| Owner Type | Federal |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Not Rated |
| Emergency Action Plan | No |
Identifiers
| NID ID | MT03667 |
| Federal ID | MT03667 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |