Fargo-Moorhead Diversion dam
Fargo-Moorhead Diversion
The Fargo-Moorhead Diversion is a key flood risk reduction structure located in Clay County, Minnesota along the Red River. Designed by USACOE, this rockfill dam stands at a height of 54 feet and has a storage capacity of 512,000 acre-feet. With a drainage area of 6,800 square miles, the diversion plays a critical role in protecting the city of Fargo-Moorhead from potential flood events.
Managed by the local government, the Fargo-Moorhead Diversion is regulated and inspected by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, ensuring its structural integrity and compliance with state standards. The dam's primary purpose is flood risk reduction, with a high hazard potential due to its location and function. Equipped with Tainter radial gates for outlet control, the diversion serves as a crucial defense mechanism against flooding in the region.
As water resource and climate enthusiasts, understanding the significance of infrastructure like the Fargo-Moorhead Diversion is essential in mitigating the impacts of extreme weather events and safeguarding communities against potential disasters. With its strategic location along the Red River and state-of-the-art design, this diversion structure stands as a testament to proactive flood management efforts in the face of a changing climate.
Dam data reference
Condition Assessment
- Satisfactory
- No existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. Acceptable performance is expected under all loading conditions (static, hydrologic, seismic) in accordance with the minimum applicable state or federal regulatory criteria or tolerable risk guidelines.
- Fair
- No existing dam safety deficiencies are recognized for normal operating conditions. Rare or extreme hydrologic and/or seismic events may result in a dam safety deficiency. Risk may be in the range to take further action.
- Poor
- A dam safety deficiency is recognized for normal operating conditions which may realistically occur. Remedial action is necessary. POOR may also be used when uncertainties exist as to critical analysis parameters which identify a potential dam safety deficiency.
- Unsatisfactory
- A dam safety deficiency is recognized that requires immediate or emergency remedial action for problem resolution.
- Not Rated
- The dam has not been inspected, is not under state or federal jurisdiction, or has been inspected but, for whatever reason, has not been rated.
Hazard Potential Classification
- High
- Dams assigned the high hazard potential classification are those where failure or mis-operation will probably cause loss of human life.
- Significant
- Dams assigned the significant hazard potential classification are those dams where failure or mis-operation results in no probable loss of human life but can cause economic loss, environmental damage, disruption of lifeline facilities, or impact other concerns. Significant hazard potential classification dams are often located in predominantly rural or agricultural areas but could be in areas with population and significant infrastructure.
- Low
- Dams assigned the low hazard potential classification are those where failure or mis-operation results in no probable loss of human life and low economic and/or environmental losses. Losses are principally limited to the owner's property.
- Undetermined
- Dams for which a downstream hazard potential has not been designated or is not provided.
Plan around the weather
Same NOAA / yr.no feed Snoflo's iOS app uses. Watch the precipitation column on the meteogram -- rain on the basin upstream typically lifts inflow 24-72 hours later.
Next 5 days, hour by hour
Temperature line with weather symbols on top, snow + rain accumulation as columns, humidity as a dotted line.
5-day forecast table
Every 3 hours, broken out across temperature, snow, rain, humidity, and wind. Each cell is colour-coded relative to the column min/max.
| Time | Condition | Temp (°F) | Snow (in) | Rain (in) | Humidity (%) | Wind (mps) | Wind dir |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loading detailed forecast… | |||||||
15-day temperature & precipitation
Daily temperatures, snow, and rain projected over the next two weeks.
Nearby streamflow gauges
USGS streamgauges around Fargo-Moorhead Diversion -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Red River Of The North At Hickson | 795 cfs | → |
| Sheyenne R Ab Sheyenne R Diversion Nr Horace | 352 cfs | → |
| South Branch Buffalo River At Sabin | 65 cfs | → |
| Red River Of The North At Fargo | 897 cfs | → |
| Sheyenne River Near Kindred | 354 cfs | → |
| Sheyenne River At West Fargo | 362 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Fargo-Moorhead Diversion.
Boat launches
- 52nd Avenue South Fargo
- Red River Trail Fargo
- Old Trail East Street Moorhead
- 170th Avenue Southeast Mooreton Township
Track Fargo-Moorhead Diversion in the Snoflo app
Save this dam as a favorite and get the local NOAA / yr.no forecast plus regional flow context wherever you are.
About Fargo-Moorhead Diversion
Where does the data for Fargo-Moorhead Diversion come from?
Structural and regulatory data come from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' National Inventory of Dams (NID). Weather forecast comes from NOAA / yr.no -- the same feed Snoflo's iOS app uses.
How often is the report updated?
NID structural data refreshes annually as the Corps publishes updated assessments. The weather forecast refreshes throughout the day.
What does the High hazard rating mean?
The Corps of Engineers' hazard potential classification grades probable consequences if the dam fails: High = probable loss of human life; Significant = no probable loss of human life but possible economic loss / environmental damage; Low = no probable loss of human life, only minor economic / environmental losses. See the Dam Data Reference card above for the full definitions.
What's "% of normal"?
The current storage value compared to the historical average storage on this calendar day. 100% = right on average; values above 100% mean above-normal storage (wet year); values below mean below-normal (dry year or drought).
Can I get alerts when storage crosses a threshold?
Yes -- alerts are managed in the Snoflo iOS app. Favorite this dam, set a threshold, and you'll get a push the moment conditions cross.
Other water bodies near here
Snoflo-tracked reservoirs and dams within driving distance of Fargo-Moorhead Diversion.