Kicking Horse Dam facts for kids
The Kicking Horse Dam (National ID # MT00594) is an important dam located in Lake County, Montana. It helps manage water for farming and fun activities in the area.
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Building the Kicking Horse Dam
The Kicking Horse Dam was built in 1930. It was constructed by the United States Bureau of Indian Affairs. This agency works with Native American tribes. The dam is made of earth. It stands 29 feet tall and stretches 5,220 feet long at its top.
What the Dam Does
The main job of the Kicking Horse Dam is to hold back water from Dublin Gulch. This creates a reservoir. The water is then used for irrigation, which means watering crops for local farms. It also provides a place for people to enjoy outdoor activities. The Bureau of Indian Affairs still owns and operates the dam today. Fun activities around the dam are managed by the local tribal government and the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks.
Kicking Horse Reservoir: A Place for Fun
The dam creates a body of water called the Kicking Horse Reservoir. This reservoir covers about 1.1 square miles when full. It can hold a lot of water, up to 8,350 acre-feet. An acre-foot is the amount of water needed to cover one acre of land with water one foot deep.
Exploring the Area Around the Dam
The Kicking Horse Dam and its reservoir are surrounded by the Flathead Indian Reservation. This land belongs to the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes. The small town of Kicking Horse, Montana is also very close by. The beautiful Mission Mountains Wilderness is right next to the dam too.
People can enjoy fishing and bird hunting at Kicking Horse Reservoir. These activities follow special rules set by the tribal government.
