Mcdowell Dam dam
Mcdowell Dam
Mcdowell Dam, located in Burleigh County, North Dakota, is a local government-owned structure designed by USDA NRCS in 1976 for the primary purpose of recreation. This earth dam stands at a height of 51.2 feet and has a structural height of 58.8 feet, with a length of 1370 feet. It has a storage capacity of 1479.6 acre-feet, with a normal storage level of 840 acre-feet, and covers a surface area of 59.5 acres.
Managed by the North Dakota State Water Commission (NDSWC), Mcdowell Dam is regulated, inspected, and enforced by the state, ensuring its safety and compliance with regulations. With a spillway width of 200 feet and an uncontrolled spillway type, the dam has a significant hazard potential and moderate risk level. The emergency action plan was last revised in October 2016, and overall, the dam's condition assessment is currently not rated.
Water resource and climate enthusiasts can appreciate Mcdowell Dam's vital role in providing recreational opportunities while being a critical component of water management in the region. Its design, construction, and regulatory oversight ensure the safety of nearby communities and highlight the importance of sustainable dam operations in the face of changing climate conditions.
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 Mcdowell Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Apple Creek Nr Menoken | 128 cfs | → |
| Hay Creek At Main Avenue In Bismarck | 5 cfs | → |
| Missouri River At Bismarck | 19,200 cfs | → |
| Burnt Creek Nr Bismarck | 5 cfs | → |
| Heart River Nr Mandan | 70 cfs | → |
| Long Lake Cr Below Long Lake Nr Moffit | 95 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Mcdowell Dam.
Boat launches
- 93rd Street Northeast Burleigh County
- Downing Street 4008, Bismarck
- River Road Bismarck
- Mills Avenue Bismarck
- Burleigh County
- Desert Road Burleigh County
Campgrounds
- General Sibley City Park
- Crown Butte Dam
- Oceti Sakowin Camp
- Red Warrior Camp
- Sacred Stone Camp
- Hazelton City Park Campground
Paddle runs
Track Mcdowell Dam 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 Mcdowell Dam
Where does the data for Mcdowell Dam 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 Significant 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 Mcdowell Dam.