Ehlis Brothers Dam dam
Ehlis Brothers Dam
Ehlis Brothers Dam, located in Hettinger, North Dakota, is a privately owned structure designed by the USDA NRCS and regulated by the North Dakota State Water Commission. Completed in 1967, this earth dam stands at a height of 18 feet and has a storage capacity of 130 acre-feet. Its primary purpose is for recreation, with a spillway width of 25 feet and a hazard potential rated as low.
The dam, situated on the Cannonball-TR river, falls under the jurisdiction of the St. Paul District of the US Army Corps of Engineers, with no federal agency ownership or funding. Despite not having outlet gates, the dam's risk assessment is moderate, with a condition assessment of "not rated." While the structure has not been inspected recently, it is state-regulated and permitted, demonstrating a commitment to safety and environmental protection in this area of North Dakota.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Ehlis Brothers Dam represents a unique example of a privately owned, state-regulated recreational structure that serves both practical and leisure purposes. With its modest size and low hazard potential, this earth dam showcases the collaborative efforts between private owners, regulatory agencies, and design professionals in ensuring the safety and sustainability of water resources in the region.
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 Ehlis Brothers Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Heart River Nr South Heart | · | → |
| Cannonball River At Regent | 5 cfs | → |
| Green River Nr New Hradec | 0 cfs | → |
| Heart River Nr Richardton | 19 cfs | → |
| Deep Creek Nr Amidon | 0 cfs | → |
| Little Missouri River At Medora | 56 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Ehlis Brothers Dam.
Boat launches
- 8th Street Southwest Stark County
- 114th Avenue Southwest Stark County
- 30th Avenue Southwest Stark County
Campgrounds
- New England South Park
- Patterson Lake Rec Area Campground
- Belfield Dam - Nd Gfd
- Burning Coal Vein Campground
- Burning Coal Vein
Paddle runs
- Southern Boundary Of The South Unit Of Theodore Roosevelt National Park To Northern Boundary Of The South Unit Of Theodore Roosevelt National Park
- Southern Boundary Of The Elkhorn Unit Of Theodore Roosevelt National Park To Northern Boundary Of The Elkhorn Unit Of Theodore Roosevelt National Park
Track Ehlis Brothers 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 Ehlis Brothers Dam
Where does the data for Ehlis Brothers 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 Ehlis Brothers Dam.