# Canyon Ferry Unit, part of the Pick-Sloan Missouri Basin Program. Publisher: CapexCue Canonical dossier: Dossier reference: release 1 (6c00ceb7-8262-4027-a9b9-56cc53c22e62) Released project intelligence Oldest supporting observation: 2026-10-04T20:30:32.118012+00:00 Dossier released: 2026-10-16T13:32:51.059208+00:00 Source report dates and capture dates are listed per fact below; neither establishes an event date. ## Project summary Canyon Ferry Unit is part of the Pick-Sloan Missouri Basin Program in Montana. The source describes its principal infrastructure as Canyon Ferry Dam and Powerplant with Canyon Ferry Reservoir; it places the dam and powerplant on the Missouri River about 17 miles northeast of Helena. The powerplant is reported as rated at 50,000 kilowatts and having three generating units. The source records dam construction from May 24, 1949, to June 23, 1954, and gives operating dates for the first unit and the other two. It also says the upper-lake wildlife-enhancement construction began in 1972 and was essentially complete in 1978, following an earlier plan and federal assistance request. A historical section reports that fine material from exposed upper-lake flats contributed to air pollution near the lake after initial filling in 1955, with adverse effects described locally. It gives a Townsend deposition figure of 301 tons per square mire per month, versus 15–20 tons considered acceptable; the area unit in the source is unclear. ## Evidence limits and unknowns - The source does not establish the dam, powerplant, reservoir, or wildlife facilities’ present condition or current operating status. It identifies the Bureau of Reclamation as the operating agency and dates the transfer to operation and maintenance to January 1, 1955, but does not establish whether that status remains current. - No current procurement, supplier opportunity, contract, cost, or funding commitment is established. The historical account describes a federal assistance request for wildlife-enhancement works and says construction was essentially complete in 1978. - The supplied page content does not state a publication or last-verification date for its capacity, benefits, and recreation descriptions; their currentness is therefore unknown. - The page lists a Canyon Ferry Unit History document, but that linked document’s contents are not assessed here. Current purchasing availability: unknown. Source-dated plans do not establish current progress or available supplier packages. ## Project metadata Country: United States Region: North America Physical assets: Hydropower Derived from the exact released evidence; unresolved fields remain unclassified. ## Project category Energy Derived from the reviewed scope statement; delivery stage remains unclassified. The unit’s principal structures are Canyon Ferry Dam and Powerplant, with Canyon Ferry Reservoir. The source describes a concrete gravity dam about 1,000 feet long along its crest and 225 feet high, with a central spillway controlled by four radial gates, four river outlets, a pumping intake for the Helena Valley Pumping Plant, and three penstocks. The downstream-toe powerplant houses three vertical-shaft generators. The same unit page also describes upper-lake waterfowl-enhancement works, including a dike system and habitat facilities. Source: US Bureau of Reclamation screened government project narrative — https://www.usbr.gov/projects/index.php?id=435 | published unknown | observed 2026-10-04T20:30:32.118012+00:00 Project overview Oldest decisive evidence: 2026-10-04T20:30:32.118012+00:00 Newest evidence: 2026-10-04T20:30:32.118012+00:00 Knowledge reviewed: 2026-10-16T13:32:50.510652+00:00 Publication reviewed: 2026-10-16T13:32:50.510652+00:00 ## Name Canyon Ferry Unit, part of the Pick-Sloan Missouri Basin Program. Status: reported Attribution: USBR government authored factual project page or attributed agencyhistory author Source: US Bureau of Reclamation screened government project narrative — https://www.usbr.gov/projects/index.php?id=435 | published unknown | observed 2026-10-04T20:30:32.118012+00:00 ## Scope The unit’s principal structures are Canyon Ferry Dam and Powerplant, with Canyon Ferry Reservoir. The source describes a concrete gravity dam about 1,000 feet long along its crest and 225 feet high, with a central spillway controlled by four radial gates, four river outlets, a pumping intake for the Helena Valley Pumping Plant, and three penstocks. The downstream-toe powerplant houses three vertical-shaft generators. The same unit page also describes upper-lake waterfowl-enhancement works, including a dike system and habitat facilities. Status: reported Attribution: USBR government authored factual project page or attributed agencyhistory author Source: US Bureau of Reclamation screened government project narrative — https://www.usbr.gov/projects/index.php?id=435 | published unknown | observed 2026-10-04T20:30:32.118012+00:00 ## Ecology The source reports that fine material from exposed flats at the upper end of the lake contributed to air pollution near the lake after initial filling in 1955, and describes adverse effects on the local living environment, forage crops, and livestock. It reports Townsend deposition averaging 301 tons per square mire per month, compared with 15–20 tons considered acceptable; the source’s stated area unit is unclear. The waterfowl facilities are described as providing nesting and breeding habitat, supplemental resting and feeding sites for migratory birds, and opportunities for public hunting and observation. Status: reported Attribution: USBR government authored factual project page or attributed agencyhistory author Source: US Bureau of Reclamation screened government project narrative — https://www.usbr.gov/projects/index.php?id=435 | published unknown | observed 2026-10-04T20:30:32.118012+00:00 ## Activity The unit is described as serving power supply, flood control, and irrigation. Dam construction began May 24, 1949, and was completed June 23, 1954; the first power unit began operating December 18, 1953, and the other two began in March 1954. For upper-lake wildlife enhancement, the source says a dike system had been planned by Montana Fish and Game, which lacked the financial capability to undertake it; federal assistance was requested, construction began in 1972, and was essentially complete in 1978. Status: actual Attribution: USBR government authored factual project page or attributed agencyhistory author Source: US Bureau of Reclamation screened government project narrative — https://www.usbr.gov/projects/index.php?id=435 | published unknown | observed 2026-10-04T20:30:32.118012+00:00 ## Delivery The reservoir is reported to have a total capacity of 2,050,900 acre-feet and to store water for irrigation development, including source-stated potential to irrigate 155,600 acres of new land and supplement irrigation on 82,000 acres. The dam also stores unused floodwater and unappropriated water and regulates flows for downstream powerplants. The powerplant is rated at 50,000 kilowatts; the source says its generated electricity is marketed by the Missouri River Basin Transmission Division. A recreation development program described by the source includes picnicking, camping, boating, fishing, and swimming. Status: reported Attribution: USBR government authored factual project page or attributed agencyhistory author Source: US Bureau of Reclamation screened government project narrative — https://www.usbr.gov/projects/index.php?id=435 | published unknown | observed 2026-10-04T20:30:32.118012+00:00 ## Location Montana, on the Missouri River. The source places the dam and powerplant about 17 miles northeast of Helena and says they are about 1.5 miles downstream from the original Montana Power Company dam and powerplant. Status: reported Attribution: USBR government authored factual project page or attributed agencyhistory author Source: US Bureau of Reclamation screened government project narrative — https://www.usbr.gov/projects/index.php?id=435 | published unknown | observed 2026-10-04T20:30:32.118012+00:00 ## Implementing Agency The Bureau of Reclamation is identified as the operating agency. The source says the unit was transferred to operation and maintenance on January 1, 1955. Status: reported Attribution: USBR government authored factual project page or attributed agencyhistory author Source: US Bureau of Reclamation screened government project narrative — https://www.usbr.gov/projects/index.php?id=435 | published unknown | observed 2026-10-04T20:30:32.118012+00:00 ## Cite this dossier CapexCue — Canyon Ferry Unit, part of the Pick-Sloan Missouri Basin Program. — dossier released 2026-10-16T13:32:51.059208+00:00, release 1 (6c00ceb7-8262-4027-a9b9-56cc53c22e62) — https://capexcue.com/projects/canyon-ferry-unit-part-of-the-pick-sloan-missouri-basin-program-a090cba15eb84537/. For current information and later dossier updates, visit . This file records the release identified above; the current dossier may change.