Baldhill Dam dam
Baldhill Dam
Baldhill Dam, also known as Lake Ashtabula, is a federal-owned concrete dam located in Valley City, North Dakota, on the Sheyenne River. Completed in 1950, the dam serves primarily for flood risk reduction but also provides recreation and water supply benefits. With a maximum storage capacity of 156,000 acre-feet and a spillway width of 120 feet, the dam helps mitigate flood risks downstream by storing peak river flows during storm events. However, the dam does not completely eliminate flood risk, and large storms could fill the reservoir to capacity, potentially overtopping levees downstream.
The management of flood risks at Baldhill Dam involves close collaboration between the US Army Corps of Engineers and the National Weather Service to utilize real-time weather and streamflow forecast data. The Valley City Levees and related infrastructure have been raised and improved by the local community to increase the downstream river's capacity, improving overall flood risk management effectiveness. Additionally, the movement of landslides on the west hillside near the dam is continuously monitored, with countermeasures in place to mitigate potential risks. Despite the low risk assessment in 2014, future flood events could be more severe, necessitating ongoing risk management efforts to protect downstream communities like Valley City from catastrophic flooding.
In recent years, North Dakota has experienced intense spring storms and potential summer floods, emphasizing the importance of proactive measures to minimize flood impacts. Residents of Valley City and surrounding areas must remain vigilant, as flood events could occur throughout the year, posing risks of life loss and significant property damage. As climate change continues to impact weather patterns, the management of flood risks at Baldhill Dam becomes increasingly crucial to safeguarding communities along the Sheyenne River.
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 Baldhill Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Sheyenne River Below Baldhill Dam | 666 cfs | → |
| Baldhill Creek Nr Dazey | 29 cfs | → |
| Maple River Nr Hope | 2 cfs | → |
| Sheyenne River Nr Cooperstown | 596 cfs | → |
| James River At Jamestown | 327 cfs | → |
| Maple River Nr Enderlin | 105 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Baldhill Dam.
Track Baldhill 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 Baldhill Dam
Where does the data for Baldhill 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 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 Baldhill Dam.