Nygren Dam dam
Nygren Dam
Nygren Dam, also known as Helge, is a local government-owned structure located in Morton, North Dakota. Built in 1967 by USDA NRCS, this earth dam stands 37 feet tall and spans 250 feet across the Heart River. The dam primarily serves as a recreational area, offering a surface area of 33.1 acres and a normal storage capacity of 92.3 acre-feet.
Managed by NDSWC, Nygren Dam has a low hazard potential and is not currently rated for its condition. Despite its moderate risk assessment, the dam has not been modified in recent years and does not feature any outlet gates. With a storage capacity of 193 acre-feet, the dam is able to control the flow of water in the Heart River, although it is equipped with an uncontrolled spillway with a width of 50 feet.
Although Nygren Dam is not under federal jurisdiction, it is regulated and permitted by the state of North Dakota. With regular inspections and enforcement in place, this dam provides both recreational opportunities and water resource management for the local community, showcasing the importance of sustainable infrastructure in the face of shifting climate patterns.
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 Nygren Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Heart River At Stark Bridge Nr Judson | 55 cfs | → |
| Big Muddy Creek Near Almont | 4 cfs | → |
| Sweetbriar Creek Nr Judson | 2 cfs | → |
| Cannonball River At Breien | 47 cfs | → |
| Heart River Nr Mandan | 74 cfs | → |
| Antelope Creek Nr Carson | 5 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Nygren Dam.
Boat launches
- I 94 Mandan
- State Highway 1806 Morton County
- Mills Avenue Bismarck
- Downing Street 4008, Bismarck
- Desert Road Burleigh County
- River Road Bismarck
Campgrounds
- Sweetbriar Lake - Southeast Ramp - Nd Gfd
- Sweet Briar Lake
- Sweetbriar Lake-Northwest Ramp - Nd Gfd
- Crown Butte Dam
- North City Park
- General Sibley City Park
Paddle runs
Track Nygren 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 Nygren Dam
Where does the data for Nygren 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 Low 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 Nygren Dam.