Leland Dam; Ernest dam
Leland Dam; Ernest
Leland Dam; Ernest is a privately owned earth dam located in McKenzie, North Dakota, along the Sheep Creek. Built in 1963 by USDA NRCS, this dam serves primarily for irrigation purposes, with a storage capacity of 189 acre-feet. The dam stands at 30.6 feet high and has a spillway width of 100 feet, designed as uncontrolled.
Managed by the North Dakota State Water Commission, Leland Dam; Ernest is regulated, permitted, inspected, and enforced by state authorities to ensure its safety and compliance with regulations. Despite being categorized with a low hazard potential, the dam's risk assessment indicates a moderate risk level (3), prompting the need for ongoing risk management measures. With a condition assessment of 'Not Rated,' the dam's emergency action plan status and inundation maps preparedness remain unclear.
Enthusiasts of water resources and climate in the region may find Leland Dam; Ernest an intriguing case study for its historical significance, structural design, and operational considerations. As a key irrigation infrastructure in the area, the dam's role in water management and conservation efforts, along with its risk management strategies, offer valuable insights into the intersection of water resource management and climate resilience in North Dakota.
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 Leland Dam; Ernest -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Yellowstone River Near Sidney Mt | 14,600 cfs | → |
| Charbonneau Creek Nr Charbonneau | 0 cfs | → |
| Little Missouri River Nr Watford City | 38 cfs | → |
| Beaver Creek Nr Trotters | 2 cfs | → |
| Little Missouri River At Medora | 43 cfs | → |
| Missouri River Near Culbertson Mt | 6,340 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Leland Dam; Ernest.
Campgrounds
- Sather Lake Recreation Area
- Sather Lake
- Seven Sisters Fas
- First Responders City Park
- First Responders Park - Alexander
- Outback Hilltop
Paddle runs
- Southern Boundary Of The Elkhorn Unit Of Theodore Roosevelt National Park To Northern Boundary Of The Elkhorn Unit Of Theodore Roosevelt National Park
- Southern Boundary Of The South Unit Of Theodore Roosevelt National Park To Northern Boundary Of The South Unit Of Theodore Roosevelt National Park
Track Leland Dam; Ernest 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 Leland Dam; Ernest
Where does the data for Leland Dam; Ernest 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 Leland Dam; Ernest.