Black Horse Lake

Black Horse Lake is a seasonal lake just north of present-day Great Falls, Montana. The lake is usually dry, except during the spring and early summer.

Black Horse Lake
Location of Black Horse Lake in Montana, USA.
Location of Black Horse Lake in Montana, USA.
Black Horse Lake
Location of Black Horse Lake in Montana, USA.
Location of Black Horse Lake in Montana, USA.
Black Horse Lake
LocationGreat Falls, Montana
Coordinates47°36′21″N 111°13′14″W
TypeEndorheic basin

Location

Black horse Lake is located approximately 3 miles southeast of Benton Lake National Wildlife Refuge.[1]

History
The nearby Benton Lake. 2013 photo.

This lake was previously a large, year round lake. According to historical records, the nearby[2] Benton Lake, was used by early European settlers in the Great Falls, Montana region, to irrigate farms. A canal or canals were dug to drain Benton Lake for irrigation. The one remaining canal leads from northwest to southeast, directly to Black Horse Lake. The canal abruptly stops about a third of a mile from where Black Horse Lake was situated. Benton Lake is 3,625 feet (1,105 m) above sea level.

In 2008 the United States Department of Energy obliged Montana Alberta Tie Ltd to route power-lines away from the lake.[3]

Ecology

The lake is an alkali wetlands and a habitat to waterfowl, gulls and shorebirds.[4] It floods seasonally.[5]

Size

The present size of Black Horse Lake varies due to varying precipitation and other factors. In dry years, the lake never fills up at all. The lakes maximum extent is 1.5 miles from north to south, and 1.25 miles from east to west covering an area of 3 square miles (7.8 km2)

See also

References
  1. Benton Lake National Wildlife Refuge Map, 1984, Government of Montana https://mtnhp.org/mtbird/PopPlaces_Pdfs/BentonLakeNWR.pdf
  2. Heitmeyer, Mickey E.; Fields, Vanessa L.; Artmann, Michael J.; Fredrickson, Leigh H. (December 2009). An Evaluation of Ecosystem Restoration and Management Options for Benton Lake National Wildlife Refuge. Bloomfield: Blue Heron Conservation Design and Printing. Greenbrier Wetland Services Report No. 09–01.
  3. "Record of Decision; Montana Alberta Tie Ltd". The Federal Register. 73 (222). 17 November 2008. ProQuest 190245474.
  4. Great Falls-Conrad Transmission Line Project: Environmental Impact Statement. (1984). United States, p2-1
  5. Montana Alberta Tie Ltd., 230-kV Transmission Line: Environmental Impact Statement. (2008). United States: p3-79
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