Medicine Lake Dam No. 12

LAKE CREEK· Sheridan, Montana· Built 1935· Earth· 10 ft tall
Low Hazard Fish And Wildlife Pond Federal Government

Key Takeaway

Medicine Lake Dam No. 12 is classified as low hazard in Montana. It was completed in 1935 and is 91 years old. Its primary use is fish and wildlife pond.

Physical Details

Dam Height 10 ft (taller than 3.7% in MT)
Dam Length300 ft
Dam TypeEarth
Max Storage2.2K acre-ft
Normal Storage400 acre-ft
Surface Area362 acres
Drainage Area486 sq mi
Max Discharge2,922 cfs
Year Completed1935 (91 years old)
NID IDMT03099

Safety Information

Low Hazard

No probable loss of human life and low economic/environmental losses expected.

Hazard potential describes downstream consequences of failure, not the dam's current condition. What does this mean?

Emergency Action Plan: No
Last Inspection: October 3, 2016
State Regulated: No

Ownership

US FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE

Federal Government

Nearby Dams

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the hazard classification of Medicine Lake Dam No. 12?

Medicine Lake Dam No. 12 is classified as Low Hazard. No probable loss of human life and low economic/environmental losses expected. This classification refers to the potential downstream consequences of a failure, not the dam's current structural condition.

Who owns and operates Medicine Lake Dam No. 12?

Medicine Lake Dam No. 12 is owned by US FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE (Federal Government). The owner is responsible for maintenance, inspections, and compliance with dam safety regulations.

When was Medicine Lake Dam No. 12 built?

Medicine Lake Dam No. 12 was completed in 1935, making it 91 years old. Many U.S. dams were built between the 1930s and 1970s during a period of major infrastructure investment.

What is the primary purpose of Medicine Lake Dam No. 12?

Medicine Lake Dam No. 12 serves the following purposes: Fish And Wildlife Pond. Many dams in the U.S. are multi-purpose, supporting flood control, water supply, recreation, and other uses.

How tall is Medicine Lake Dam No. 12?

Medicine Lake Dam No. 12 has a dam height of 10 ft. Dam height is measured from the natural streambed at the downstream toe to the top of the dam, and may differ from the visible height.

When was Medicine Lake Dam No. 12 last inspected?

Medicine Lake Dam No. 12 was last inspected on October 3, 2016. Inspection dates indicate when a formal review occurred, not the results of that inspection.

Data from the National Inventory of Dams (NID) maintained by the US Army Corps of Engineers. Dam conditions may have changed since the last update. This site is not affiliated with USACE. Do not use for emergency planning — contact your local dam safety program.