Finale Dam Reconstruction Project Begins to Enhance Safety, Public Access
GLASGOW, Mont. – Work will begin next week to rehabilitate Finale Detention Dam in south Valley County, Montana, an important project that supports public safety, protects wildlife habitat, and ensures recreation opportunities remain accessible.
During construction, a temporary on-site bypass route will be available while work happens on the section of Triple Crossing Access Road across the dam’s crest. The on-site bypass is not recommended for passenger vehicles without four-wheel-drive or those with low ground clearance. Larger vehicles, such as semi-trucks, pickups pulling trailers, and two-wheel drive passenger vehicles, should use Larb Creek and Willow Creek roads as detour routes. Work is expected to be completed in late October.
Finale Detention Dam, a low-hazard dam built in 1965, plays a key role in maintaining access to more than 250,000 acres of Bureau of Land Management-managed public lands used for hunting, wildlife viewing, and other outdoor activities.
After 60 years of service and multiple high‑flow weather events, inspections identified damage to the dam’s outlet works, stilling basin, embankment, and concrete structures.
The project will temporarily drain the reservoir and replace worn-out parts of the dam that have been damaged over time. Crews will rebuild sections of the dam’s foundation and embankment, install a new spillway to safely handle water during storms, and repair the road that crosses the top of the dam. These upgrades will strengthen the dam, lower the chance of failure, protect nearby communities, support healthy wildlife habitat, and ensure people can continue enjoying recreation on the surrounding public lands.
Funding for this work comes primarily from the Great American Outdoors Act, which invests in deferred maintenance and projects that enhance public access and conserve natural resources across America’s public lands. A $1.2 million contract to perform the work was awarded to Youderian Construction Inc., a registered small business based in Stanford, Montana.
Learn more about GAOA projects happening on BLM-administered public lands. For more information contact the Glasgow Field Office at 406-228-3750.
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The BLM manages about 245 million acres of public land located primarily in 12 western states, including Alaska, on behalf of the American people. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. Our mission is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of America’s public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations.