| Posted in: News Releases
CANYON FERRY DAM HISTORY
Canyon Ferry Dam is a key structure on the Missouri River in Montana, located about 20 miles east of Helena in the valley where the Big Belt Mountains and Spokane Hills merge. The current concrete dam, completed in 1954 by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, replaced an earlier rock-filled timber-crib dam that was built in 1896.
The original dam formed a reservoir called Lake Sewell, and the Montana Power Company built a 7,500-kilowatt power plant adjacent to the old dam. Both the old Canyon Ferry Dam and power plant were dismantled prior to the completion of the new dam and power plant, with the remnants and Lake Sewell eventually becoming inundated by the new reservoir.
The original dam was built primarily for irrigation but proved inadequate for broader regional needs. Severe flooding along the Missouri River in the early 20th century highlighted the need for improved flood control measures. The new dam’s construction was kicked off as part of the Pick-Sloan Missouri River Basin Project, which was authorized by the Flood Control Act in 1944, and it was designed to promote flood control, irrigation, recreation and hydropower production.
Canyon Ferry was constructed to provide regulation of runoff for low-cost power and to permit increased irrigation diversions in the upper Missouri River Basin. With a total capacity of 2,051,000 acre-feet, Canyon Ferry Reservoir makes possible the irrigation of 155,600 acres of land and supplements irrigation of 82,000 acres in the surrounding region.
KEY FEATURES AND HYDROPOWER PRODUCTION
Standing 225 feet high and stretching 1,000 feet across, the dam impounds the Missouri River to create Canyon Ferry Lake, Montana’s third-largest body of water. This expansive reservoir holds nearly 2 million acre-feet of water and provides essential services for recreation, irrigation and wildlife habitat.
Canyon Ferry Power Plant is part of the Eastern Division of the Pick-Sloan Missouri Basin Program, and houses three 16.5 MW Francis turbine generators that are capable of producing 50 megawatts (MW) of clean, renewable energy. Unit 1 began operation in December 1953, and Units 2 and 3 in March 1954.
Today, the energy produced by Canyon Ferry helps meet the power needs of communities across Montana and contributes to the regional power grid. It also remains a vital part of Montana’s water management and renewable energy infrastructure, symbolizing the Upper Midwest’s enduring connection to the mighty Missouri River.
CANYON FERRY DAM HISTORICAL AND INTERESTING FACTS
• The original dam submerged the historic mining village of Canton, which had prospered during Montana’s gold rush. When the current dam was built, even more of the valley was flooded. St. Joseph Catholic Church, which was originally part of the Canton settlement, was relocated 2.5 miles east to avoid submersion and is now listed on the National Register of Historical Places.
• Three campsites used by the Lewis and Clark Expedition were also flooded by the dam.
• During the construction of the new dam, work crews faced bitterly cold winters and had to manage the logistical challenges of moving massive amounts of concrete and other construction material to the remote site.
• Canyon Ferry Lake has become a popular destination for fishing, boating and camping, drawing thousands of outdoor enthusiasts to its shores and the surrounding region each year.