Fresno Dam, located on the Milk River fourteen miles west of Havre, Montana, is a compacted earthfill dam with a structural height of 110 feet and a crest length of 2,070 feet. It contains 2,105,000 cubic yards of material. An overflow-type spillway at the north end of the dam provides for a maximum flow of 51,360 cubic feet per second through the concrete-lined channel. The outlet works discharge a maximum of 2,500 cubic feet per second through two 72-inch conduits. Total conservation storage of 91,746 acre-feet is impounded in Fresno Reservoir.
Fresno Dam construction was completed in 1939 as an irrigation storage facility under the greater Milk River Project. Fresno was authorized under the National Industrial Recovery Act and was approved by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in August 1935, pursuant to the acts of June 25, 1910, and December 5, 1924. In addition to providing irrigation water
to the Milk River Project, Fresno Dam provides incidental benefits for flood control and recreation.
Fresno Reservoir is one of Montana’s best warm water fishing locations with sixty-five miles of shoreline. It offers a diverse and rewarding fishing experience. Walleye are one of the main attractions at Fresno Reservoir. Anglers can target walleye using techniques such as trolling with crankbaits, jigging with live bait or artificial lures, or casting near underwater structures. Northern pike are also a sought-after species here as these aggressive predators offer an exciting fishing experience. Fresno Reservoir also supports populations of perch rainbow trout and smallmouth bass.