Fort Peck Lake
Encyclopedia
Fort Peck Lake, or Lake Fort Peck, is a major reservoir
in Montana
, formed by the Fort Peck Dam
on the Missouri River
. The lake lies in the eastern prairie
region of Montana approximately 140 miles (225.3 km) east of Great Falls
and 120 miles (193.1 km) north of Billings
, reaching into portions of six counties.
The dam and reservoir were built in response to severe flooding along the Missouri River in the early 20th century, which hampered the economic development of the Missouri River Valley
and damaged production of military supplies for then-ongoing World War II
. In response, the federal government created the Pick-Sloan Plan, calling for a series of dams and reservoirs to be built along the Missouri and its tributaries. Fort Peck Dam was built from 1933 to 1940 by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers; water impoundment began in 1937 and the reservoir was first filled to capacity in 1947.
With a volume of 18700000 acre.ft when full, Fort Peck is the fifth largest artificial lake in the United States
. It extends 134 miles (215.7 km) through central Montana, and its twisting, inlet-studded shoreline has a total length of some 1520 miles (2,446.2 km). Along with the Missouri River, smaller tributaries such as the Musselshell River
, Fourchette Creek, Timber Creek, Hell Creek and Dry Creek feed the reservoir; the latter forms the longest side arm of the reservoir, which reaches some 30 miles (48.3 km) southwards. The lake covers an area of 245000 acres (99,148.1 ha), making it the largest in Montana by surface area, although Flathead Lake
has a larger volume due to its greater depth.
The reservoir is also a tourist attraction, with 27 designated recreational sites bordering its shores. Bordering nearly the entire reservoir is the 1719 square miles (4,452.2 km²) Charles M. Russell National Wildlife Refuge
, which has preserved much of the high prairie and hill country around the lake in a more or less natural state.
Reservoir
A reservoir , artificial lake or dam is used to store water.Reservoirs may be created in river valleys by the construction of a dam or may be built by excavation in the ground or by conventional construction techniques such as brickwork or cast concrete.The term reservoir may also be used to...
in Montana
Montana
Montana is a state in the Western United States. The western third of Montana contains numerous mountain ranges. Smaller, "island ranges" are found in the central third of the state, for a total of 77 named ranges of the Rocky Mountains. This geographical fact is reflected in the state's name,...
, formed by the Fort Peck Dam
Fort Peck Dam
The Fort Peck Dam is the highest of six major dams along the Missouri River, located in northeast Montana in the United States, near Glasgow, and adjacent to the community of Fort Peck...
on the Missouri River
Missouri River
The Missouri River flows through the central United States, and is a tributary of the Mississippi River. It is the longest river in North America and drains the third largest area, though only the thirteenth largest by discharge. The Missouri's watershed encompasses most of the American Great...
. The lake lies in the eastern prairie
Prairie
Prairies are considered part of the temperate grasslands, savannas, and shrublands biome by ecologists, based on similar temperate climates, moderate rainfall, and grasses, herbs, and shrubs, rather than trees, as the dominant vegetation type...
region of Montana approximately 140 miles (225.3 km) east of Great Falls
Great Falls, Montana
Great Falls is a city in and the county seat of Cascade County, Montana, United States. The population was 58,505 at the 2010 census. It is the principal city of the Great Falls, Montana Metropolitan Statistical Area, which encompasses all of Cascade County...
and 120 miles (193.1 km) north of Billings
Billings, Montana
Billings is the largest city in the U.S. state of Montana, and is the principal city of the Billings Metropolitan Area, the largest metropolitan area in over...
, reaching into portions of six counties.
The dam and reservoir were built in response to severe flooding along the Missouri River in the early 20th century, which hampered the economic development of the Missouri River Valley
Missouri River Valley
The Missouri River Valley outlines the journey of the Missouri River from its headwaters where the Madison, Jefferson and Gallatin Rivers flow together in Montana to its confluence with the Mississippi River in the State of Missouri. At long the valley drains one-sixth of the United States, and is...
and damaged production of military supplies for then-ongoing World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. In response, the federal government created the Pick-Sloan Plan, calling for a series of dams and reservoirs to be built along the Missouri and its tributaries. Fort Peck Dam was built from 1933 to 1940 by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers; water impoundment began in 1937 and the reservoir was first filled to capacity in 1947.
With a volume of 18700000 acre.ft when full, Fort Peck is the fifth largest artificial lake in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. It extends 134 miles (215.7 km) through central Montana, and its twisting, inlet-studded shoreline has a total length of some 1520 miles (2,446.2 km). Along with the Missouri River, smaller tributaries such as the Musselshell River
Musselshell River
The Musselshell River is a tributary of the Missouri River, long from its origins at the confluence of its North and South Forks near Martinsdale, Montana to its mouth on the Missouri River. It is located east of the Continental divide entirely within Montana in the United States...
, Fourchette Creek, Timber Creek, Hell Creek and Dry Creek feed the reservoir; the latter forms the longest side arm of the reservoir, which reaches some 30 miles (48.3 km) southwards. The lake covers an area of 245000 acres (99,148.1 ha), making it the largest in Montana by surface area, although Flathead Lake
Flathead Lake
Flathead Lake is the largest natural freshwater lake in the western part of the contiguous United States. With a surface area of between and , it is slightly larger than Lake Tahoe. The lake is a remnant of the ancient inland sea, Lake Missoula of the era of the last interglacial. Flathead Lake...
has a larger volume due to its greater depth.
The reservoir is also a tourist attraction, with 27 designated recreational sites bordering its shores. Bordering nearly the entire reservoir is the 1719 square miles (4,452.2 km²) Charles M. Russell National Wildlife Refuge
Charles M. Russell National Wildlife Refuge
Charles M. Russell National Wildlife Refuge surrounds Fort Peck Reservoir and at 1,100,000 acres is the largest refuge in Montana, United States. Created in 1936, the refuge was named after famed painter of the American West, Charles M. Russell...
, which has preserved much of the high prairie and hill country around the lake in a more or less natural state.
See also
- List of lakes in Montana
- List of largest reservoirs in the United States
- List of reservoirs by volume
- New DealNew DealThe New Deal was a series of economic programs implemented in the United States between 1933 and 1936. They were passed by the U.S. Congress during the first term of President Franklin D. Roosevelt. The programs were Roosevelt's responses to the Great Depression, and focused on what historians call...