Silver Lake West Dam
Silver Lake West Dam is an earth dam located in Deer Lodge County, Montana, built in 1918. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
About Silver Lake West Dam
The primary purpose of Silver Lake West Dam is irrigation. The dam stores and diverts water for agricultural irrigation, supporting farming operations in the surrounding area. The dam is owned by Butte-silver Bow (local government). It impounds the Tr-georgetown Lake.
The dam stands 17 feet tall and stretches 1,292 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 340 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 17,920 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 1 square miles. Completed in 1918, 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 fair — the dam has minor deficiencies that are being addressed or do not pose an immediate safety threat. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 09/19/2024.
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 | Deer Lodge |
| Nearest City | None |
| River/Stream | Tr-georgetown Lake |
| Coordinates | 46.16861, -113.23801 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 17 ft |
| Dam Height | 17 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,292 ft |
| Year Completed | 1918 (108 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 17,920 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 17,920 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 17,570 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 340 acres |
| Drainage Area | 1 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 130 cfs |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Irrigation |
| Owner | BUTTE-SILVER BOW |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 09/19/2024 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | MT03753 |
| Federal ID | MT03753 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |