Black Horse Lake

It was once a year round lake just north of present day Great Falls, Montana which has now dried up, except during the spring and early summer, or wet season.

Past

This lake was obviously a year round large lake. According to historical records, Benton Lake which is less than 3 miles to the northwest of Black Horse Lake, was used by early white settlers in the Great Falls, Montana region, to irrigate farms. A canal or canals, were dug to drain Benton Lake for irrigation. Using google earth, the one remaining canal is clearly seen leading from the northwest to the southeast, or directly to Black Horse Lake. The canal abruptly stops about a third of a mile from where Black Horse Lake was situated. The elevation where Benton Lake is, is 3,625 feet above sea level.

Where Black Horse Lake is located nearest Benton Lake, the elevation is 3,465 feet above sea level. Using google earth, you can see a narrow strip of land that led from Black Horse Lake to an area where the canal from Benton Lake led to, was at its highest point, which is 3,519 feet above sea level. It looks as if the canal was used to send the irrigation water from Benton Lake, to where Black Horse Lake is situated. However, that does not make sense, unless, reservoirs were created where Black Horse Lake is to store the irrigation water from Benton Lake.

Present

Using google earth, you can clearly see what looks like a ditch possibly dug out by humans, at the extreme eastern area of Black Horse Lake. The manmade ditch or gully, extends to the northeast for nearly 2 miles before reaching a railroad track. Just before it reaches the railroad track, the ditch appears to stop and looks more like a natural gully. It then leads to the Missouri River, which is some 6 miles away. To those with knowledge about these features, it appears as if present day Black Horse Lake is being deliberately drained. Black Horse Lake is now only around during the wet season.

Size

The present size of Black Horse Lake obviously varies due to precipitation. Years with heavy precipitation obviously enlarges Black Horse Lake. Years with below normal precipitation reduces the size of Black Horse Lake. Some years if the precipitation amounts are well below normal, the lake does not exist. It is just an indent on the land. Presently, the indent area of Black Horse Lake is 1.5 miles long from north to south, and 1.25 miles long from east to west. From northeast to southwest, the indent on the land is 2.5 miles long. The furthest east to west intent is 2.5 miles long. The size of Black Horse Lakes intent is over 3 sq. mi.

It covers a large area but the lake was probably once much larger, if it was not originally used as reservoirs for irrigating farms. Using google earth, you can just make out just how large the lake may have been. From northeast to southwest, the lake may have been as long as 4 miles. Since the area just east of the lake has an elevation slightly lower than where Black Horse Lakes indent is, it could indicate that the lake actually extended further eastwards by several miles. If Black Horse Lake is really a natural lake, it may have covered anywhere from 10 to 20 sq. mi.

Aquadic Life

At the present time the lake has no fish. However, during the wet season the lake attracts a wide variety of wildlfe to its water including fowl of many kinds.

Future

Most likely Black Horse Lake will completly dry up sometime in the future. As mentioned, the lake appears to be in the process of being deliberately drained, if it is in fact a natural lake. Farmers are obviously very interested in the future of Black Horse Lake because of the agriculture potential of the present area of the lake.

External Links

• Info About Black Horse Lake