A crucial part of this process has been applying for and receiving nearly 10 grants (combination of planning and project grants) from the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation (DNRC) to aid the County in funding repairs and improvements. Without a sufficient funding mechanism to cover the significant operations and maintenance costs associated with owning a dam, obtaining grant funding has been vital.

Project work has included:

1. Replacing irrigation outlet slide gates and repairing the concrete pressure chamber (2014).
   New reinforced lid on concrete pressure chamber, new manhole access, new 10-inch and 30-inch slide gates, new gate operators, and site drainage improvements.
2. 5-year periodic inspection (2019).
   Completed periodic inspection and updated O&M manual.
3. Repairing spillway plunge pool and miscellaneous concrete repairs on chute spillway (2020).
   Remove eroded grouted riprap channel. Install new rock riprap in stilling basin plunge pool and irrigation outlet channel. Repair damaged concrete at the bottom of the chute spillway and the curb at the top of the chute spillway.
4. Repairing monitoring wells and air vent on 10-inch irrigation outlet (2022).
   Many of the groundwater monitoring wells also serve as a seepage underdrain system. Several of the wells and valves had been damaged by vandalism, making it impossible to obtain accurate readings of the water pressures in the soil under the dam. This project replaced or repaired the damaged features to restore their proper operation. This project also repaired an air vent on the 10-inch irrigation outlet that had corroded and failed.
5. Installing new automated lake level and irrigation outflow gages (2022).
   These new measurement devices allow real-time monitoring of the reservoir level, the inflow, and the irrigation outflow. Previously, the inflow and outflow had to be measured manually using Parshall flumes and staff gages, and the lake level had no measurement device. These pieces of information are crucial for the County to be able to balance the often competing purposes of the dam (i.e., flood protection, irrigation, fish and wildlife, and recreation).
6. Repair the tailwater channel downstream of the spillway plunge pool (scheduled fall 2024).
   The channel has eroded and over-widened from its design condition. This creates an unpredictable hydraulic jump that has led to erosion in other areas. The project will install a concrete control section followed by a riprap apron to ensure the spillway performs as designed. Check out the video of the spillway flowing in the spring of 2024!
7. 5-year periodic inspection (schedule fall 2024).
   Planned inspection to maintain compliance with the Montana Dam Safety Operation Permit.

New Automated Lake Level Gage

The ongoing maintenance and rehabilitation efforts at Beaver Creek Dam underscore the importance of proactive management in ensuring the safety and functionality of vital infrastructure. These efforts not only protect the surrounding communities from the risks of seasonal flooding but also support recreational activities and agricultural irrigation that are essential to the local economy and way of life. As Beaver Creek Dam continues to serve Hill County, the collaborative efforts of the County, Great West, and the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation highlight the critical need for sustained investment in infrastructure. Looking forward, the continued commitment to maintaining and improving the dam will ensure that it remains a cornerstone of the community for generations to come.