Blackfoot Dam facts for kids

The Blackfoot Dam is a large structure in Caribou County, Idaho, in the eastern part of the state. It was built a long time ago to help manage the Blackfoot River. The dam creates a big lake called the Blackfoot Reservoir, which is important for the area.

Blackfoot Dam: A Big Helper in Idaho

The Blackfoot Dam is an important part of Idaho's landscape. It's an "earthen dam," which means it's mostly made of compacted earth and rock. It was finished in 1911. The dam is 55 feet tall and 304 feet long at its top.

Building the Dam

The dam was built by the United States Bureau of Indian Affairs. This government group helps manage lands and resources for Native American tribes. The dam's main job is to hold back the Blackfoot River. This helps control floods and stores water for farms, especially for the Fort Hall Indian Reservation. The Bureau of Indian Affairs still owns and operates the dam today.

Blackfoot Reservoir: A Great Lake

The dam creates a large lake called the Blackfoot Reservoir. This reservoir covers about 18,000 acres of water. It can hold a huge amount of water, up to 413,000 acre-feet. (An acre-foot is the amount of water needed to cover one acre of land with water one foot deep).

The Blackfoot Dam is at the northwest end of the reservoir. Another dam, called the China Hat Dam, was built in 1923. It's located towards the southwest part of the reservoir and was added to fix problems with water leaking out of the ground.

Fun at the Reservoir

The Blackfoot Reservoir is also a great place for outdoor activities! Many people enjoy fishing there. You can catch different kinds of fish, including rainbow trout, cutthroat trout, and carp. It's a popular spot for a day out in nature.