| Clark Canyon Dam | |
| Location Map: | Montana |
| Coordinates: | 45°N -112.8569°W |
| Country: | United States |
| Location: | Beaverhead County, Montana |
| Construction Began: | 1961 |
| Opening: | 1964 |
| Dam Type: | Earthfill |
| Dam Height: | 147.5feet |
| Dam Length: | 2950feet |
| Dam Volume: | 1970000yd3 |
| Dam Elevation Crest: | 5578feet |
| Dam Crosses: | Beaverhead River |
| Spillway Count: | Uncontrolled overflow |
| Spillway Capacity: | 9520cuft/s |
| Res Name: | Clark Canyon Reservoir |
| Res Capacity Total: | 325324acre feet |
| Res Surface: | 5903acres |
| Plant Hydraulic Head: | 113.9feet |
| Plant Capacity: | None |
Clark Canyon Dam is an earthfill dam located in Beaverhead County, Montana, about 20miles south of the county seat of Dillon. The dam impounds the waters of the Beaverhead River, creating a body of water known as Clark Canyon Reservoir. The structure was constructed in 1961-1964 by the United States Bureau of Reclamation, to hold water for downstream irrigation and for flood control purposes.
Clark Canyon Dam has a crest length of 2950feet, and a maximum height of 147feet. The dam contains 1,970,000 cubic yards (1,510,000 m³) of material. The elevation of the dam crest is 5578feet. The reservoir has a total capacity of 325324acre.ft, and when full has a surface area of 5903acres.
Construction of the dam and reservoir required the relocation of U.S. Route 91 (rebuilt as Interstate 15) and a main line of the Union Pacific Railroad. The reservoir inundated the former site of the small community of Armstead, Montana, and the site of Camp Fortunate, where the Lewis and Clark Expedition camped from August 17 to 22, 1805 and held negotiations with the Shoshone.[1]
Fishing is a popular activity on the reservoir created by the dam. The reservoir is regularly stocked with fish.[2]
| Family | Class | Native to MT | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brook Trout | Trout | Coldwater | Introduced | |
| Brown Trout | Trout | Coldwater | Introduced | |
| Burbot | Codfish | Coldwater | Native | |
| Common Carp | Minnow | Warmwater | Introduced | |
| Longnose Sucker | Sucker | Warmwater | Native | |
| Mountain Whitefish | Trout | Coldwater | Native | |
| Rainbow Trout | Trout | Coldwater | Introduced | |
| White Sucker | Sucker | Warmwater | Native |