Anita Dam
Anita Dam is a gravity dam located in Blaine County, Montana, built in 1995. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
About Anita Dam
The primary purpose of Anita Dam is irrigation. The dam stores and diverts water for agricultural irrigation, supporting farming operations in the surrounding area. The dam is owned by Doi Blm (federal). It impounds the Battle Creek near Zurich.
The dam stands 42 feet tall and stretches 1,200 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 66 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 1,209 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 15 square miles. Completed in 1995, the structure is 31 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 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 07/21/2020.
At 42 feet, this dam is taller than 89% of dams nationwide.
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 | Blaine |
| Nearest City | Zurich |
| River/Stream | Battle Creek |
| Coordinates | 48.92618, -109.28200 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Gravity |
| NID Height | 42 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,200 ft |
| Year Completed | 1995 (31 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 1,209 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 1,209 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 553 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 66 acres |
| Drainage Area | 15 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 23,245 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Irrigation |
| Owner | DOI BLM |
| Owner Type | Federal |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 07/21/2020 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | MT03952 |
| Federal ID | MT03952 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |