According to historical records, the nearby[3] Benton Lake, was used by early European settlers in the Great Falls, Montana region, to irrigate farms.

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.

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

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