Nelson Reservoir is a reservoir located in Phillips County, Montana, northeast of Malta and northwest of Saco, Montana, created by damming the Milk River, a tributary of the Missouri River.
| Nelson Reservoir | |
|---|---|
  Nelson Reservoir | |
| Location | Phillips County, Montana |
| Coordinates | 48°29′28″N 107°32′55″W / 48.49111°N 107.54851°W |
| Type | Reservoir |
| Basin countries | United States |
| Surface area | 4,114.5 acres (1,665.1 ha) |
| Average depth | 19 ft (5.8 m) |
| Max. depth | 47 ft (14 m) |
| Water volume | 79,200 acre⋅ft (97,700,000 m3) |
| Surface elevation | 2,217 ft (676 m) |
It is stocked annually with 100,000 walleye[1] as well as yellow perch and northern pike. There is both warm-weather and ice fishing.[2]
The Nelson Dam is maintained by the Bureau of Reclamation. It is a homogeneous earthfill dam originally built in 1914-1915 and enlarged in 1921–1922. It provides water storage for irrigation.[3]
There is a recreation area and campground adjacent to the reservoir.[2]
It is named for H.H. Nelson, who formed The Milk River Water User's Association to lobby for building diversion dikes and dams.[4]
Notes
edit- ^ "Nelson Reservoir". Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks. Retrieved 2024-02-20.
- ^ a b "Nelson Reservoir". Visit Montana, Montana’s Official Tourism, Travel & Vacation Info Site. Retrieved 2024-02-20.
- ^ "Nelson Dam". Bureau of Reclamation. Retrieved 2024-02-20.
- ^ Manoukian, Marko (April 14, 2021). "How Nelson Reservoir got it's [sic] name". Phillips County News. Retrieved 2024-02-21.
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