Glendive & DAwson county FLOOD PROTECTION Project

Parts of Dawson County have severe flood risk. Ice jams on the Yellowstone River can cause sudden, fast-moving floods that threaten homes, infrastructure, and businesses, particularly in West Glendive. For decades, this risk has also limited economic growth in West Glendive.

What’s the solution being proposed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers?

A $13.2 million levee upgrade
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will fund 65% of project cost
Cost to local taxpayers: ~$4.6 million (35%)

June 2, 2026 Bond Vote Information

A bond to fund the levee upgrade will be on the June 2, 2026 ballot. This vote will determine whether the project with the Army Corps of Engineers moves forward. Click here to learn how to calculate your cost.

The bond's estimated cost to residential taxpayers varies by a property's market value:

For a $100,000 home: $1.08/mo. (~$13/year)
For a $200,000 home: $2.16/mo. (~$26/year)
For a $300,000 home: $3.23/mo. (~$39/year)

Estimates are for a 20-year bond term, based on an estimated 17.02 mills.

More Info

THE PROBLEM

The current levee does not provide adequate protection. The West Glendive levee was built in 1959 and was not designed for current flood standards or ice jam conditions. Recent floods have come within inches of overtopping the levee.

Ice jam flooding can happen quickly, with little warning. Water can rise rapidly and could reach depths of 10+ feet, creating dangerous conditions for residents, businesses, and emergency responders.

Updated flood maps are expected to expand the floodplain. Dawson County is working with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation to update flood risk data. The new maps will likely place more homes and businesses in high-risk areas—where flood insurance is often required for federally backed loans (e.g., FHA, VA, Fannie Mae/Freddie Mac). The proposed solution would remove most of these homes and businesses from the regulatory floodplain, eliminating mandatory flood insurance requirements.

Flood risk has limited growth for over 40 years. Businesses in West Glendive face higher insurance costs and limited access to financing, making it difficult to expand or invest. This area has seen little new development since the early 1980s, and the community has lost both national retailers and locally-owned businesses.

What’s at risk according to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers study?

Lives and public safety
Homes, including residences within the Casitas del Rio mobile home park
Local businesses and commercial areas, including Reynolds Market and Albertsons
Roads, utilities, and services

350 residents, 178 homes, and 50 businesses are located in the current flood risk area.

THE PROPOSED SOLUTION

Dawson County and the City of Glendive are working with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation, and Headwaters Economics to develop a cost-effective, construction-ready solution. In 2026, the Army Corps of Engineers announced its preferred solution: Raise and strengthen the existing levee.

Key Improvements:

Raise the levee by 3.5 feet
Improve drainage to reduce seepage
Extend the levee north toward I-94
Realign sections away from the railroad

What These Improvements Would Do:

Protect lives and property from a major flood event
Remove many homes and businesses in West Glendive from the regulatory floodplain, eliminating mandatory flood insurance requirements
Deliver $1.80 in benefits for every $1 invested
Reduce future flood damages, including long-term disruption and recovery costs
Protect key businesses, such as grocery stores, that residents throughout the county rely on

Ice jams in Glendive have a 30% chance of occurring in any given year.

Dawson County considers $4.97 million levee bond to reduce flood risk and revive economy
(KTVQ - Billings, March 8, 2026)

Every $1.00 invested

in updating West Glendive’s levee

would save $1.80.

Lives are at risk:

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Omaha District has identified Glendive as having the highest life-safety flood risk in its region.

Updated Flood Risk Maps
for Dawson County

Dawson County is working with FEMA and the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation to update flood risk maps for the Yellowstone River and its tributaries.

Flood risk maps help communities understand where flooding is most likely to occur so residents, businesses, and local governments can make informed decisions about safety, development, and insurance.

Most of the current maps for Dawson County are based on limited data collected in the 1970s and early 1980s. The new study uses modern surveys, updated river data, and improved modeling to produce more accurate information about flood risk.

Why This Matters for the West Glendive Levee Project

The levee project is designed to reduce flood risk to homes, businesses, and critical infrastructure. Once the levee is upgraded, it will change how flood risk is reflected on FEMA maps and will likely reduce insurance requirements for properties.

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REDUCING RISK BEFORE
A DISASTER OCCURS

The most severe risk from flooding in Glendive is driven by ice jams on the Yellowstone River between February and April. Ice jams can form suddenly and cause water levels to rise rapidly with little warning.

Ice jam floods in Glendive occur when:

Ice breaks up, flows downstream, and piles up -- creating a temporary dam.
Water backs up quickly and can overtop the West Glendive levee, spilling into neighborhoods and the commercial district.
Flooding can occur in minutes, and depths behind the levee could be 10+ feet.

Investing before a disaster occurs reduces long-term costs and disruption:

Avoids significantly higher disaster recovery costs
Protects lives and public safety
Protects local housing from flooding
Limits interruptions for local Glendive businesses
Supports future investment and economic growth

Major floods in Glendive in

1969, 1986, and 1994

were less than two feet away

from overtopping the levee.

An ice jam in 2014 triggered an

evacuation of a mobile home park,

a helicopter rescue of an individual

trapped by floodwaters, and power

outages to portions of the community.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What’s next?
In 2026, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers completed a multi-year study and identified raising the existing levee as the most cost-effective solution to reduce flood risk in West Glendive. Dawson County and the City of Glendive must now decide whether to move forward and partner with the Army Corps to build the project. The Army Corps would fund 65% of the construction costs, and the
County and City would split the remaining 35%. If approved, the Army Corps will finalize the project design and begin construction in partnership with the community.

Has West Glendive flooded recently?

There have been several close calls, with ice jams pushing water levels near the top of the levee. Federal studies have found the levee does not provide enough protection against a major ice jam event.

Does the Casitas del Rio mobile home park have flood risk?

Yes, this mobile home park has some of the highest flood exposure in the region. With over 120 homes, this neighborhood provides critical workforce housing. If the neighborhood was flooded and these homes could no longer be occupied, the resulting displacement would affect both residents and local employers. Because there is only one road in and out of the mobile home park, the evacuation of this neighborhood during a flood would also be challenging.

What should I know about flood insurance?

Flood insurance helps pay to repair or replace your home and belongings if they are damaged by flooding. Most standard homeowners or renters insurance policies do not cover flood damage.

Without flood insurance, property owners may need to cover repair costs out of pocket. Federal disaster assistance may become available if a disaster is declared, but it is often limited and may come in the form of loans that must be repaid. Flood insurance policies, by contrast, are designed to provide defined coverage for structural damage and/or personal belongings, depending on the policy selected.

Flood insurance is available to homeowners, renters, mobile home owners, and businesses. Coverage options and costs vary based on the property, location, elevation, and amount of coverage chosen. Policies typically have a 30-day waiting period before they take effect. Residents interested in learning more can visit the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) website through FEMA or speak with a licensed insurance agent to understand available coverage options and pricing.

Does the preferred plan require buyouts?

No. The selected plan raises and strengthens the levee and does not require buyouts of any residential homes. Some land easements will be needed.

What happens if nothing is done?

Flood risk will remain and could increase. Updated flood maps from FEMA are expected to expand the mapped flood risk area in West Glendive, potentially placing many additional homes and businesses into higher-risk zones. A major ice jam event could cause rapid flooding, housing displacement, infrastructure damage, and long-term economic disruption.