Nelson Reservoir is a reservoir located in Phillips County, Montana, northeast of Malta and northwest of Saco, Montana, created by damming the Milk River, a tributary of the Missouri River.
It is stocked annually with 100,000 walleye as well as yellow perch and northern pike. There is both warm-weather and ice fishing.
The Nelson Dam is maintained by the Bureau of Reclamation. It is a homogeneous earthfill dam originally built in 1914-1915 and enlarged in 1921âÂÂ1922. It provides water storage for irrigation.
There is a recreation area and campground adjacent to the reservoir.
It is named for H.H. Nelson, who formed The Milk River Water User's Association to lobby for building diversion dikes and dams.