Audubon Nwr-Impoundment#1 dam
Audubon Nwr-Impoundment#1
Audubon Nwr-Impoundment#1, located in McLean, North Dakota, is a Federal-owned fish and wildlife pond designed by USFWS. This Earth dam, completed in 1979, stands at a height of 13 feet and spans a length of 700 feet. With a storage capacity of 120 acre-feet and a surface area of 30 acres, this impoundment serves as a critical habitat for various aquatic species in the region.
Managed by the US Army Corps of Engineers' St. Paul District, Audubon Nwr-Impoundment#1 is regulated by the North Dakota State Water Commission. Despite its low hazard potential and current "Not Rated" condition assessment, the impoundment poses a high risk due to its proximity to Lake Audubon and the potential for inundation. While no emergency action plan is currently in place, the impoundment meets state permitting and inspection requirements, ensuring its continued operation for fish and wildlife conservation.
As climate change continues to impact water resources and habitats, Audubon Nwr-Impoundment#1 serves as a vital refuge for the region's biodiversity. With its strategic location and purposeful design, this impoundment plays a crucial role in maintaining healthy ecosystems and supporting the conservation efforts of the US Fish and Wildlife Service.
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 Audubon Nwr-Impoundment#1 -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Knife River At Hazen | 51 cfs | → |
| Square Butte Creek Below Center | 1 cfs | → |
| Spring Creek At Zap | 13 cfs | → |
| Souris River Nr Verendrye | 41 cfs | → |
| Wintering River Nr Karlsruhe | 18 cfs | → |
| Souris River Above Minot | 12 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Audubon Nwr-Impoundment#1.
Boat launches
- 14th Street Northwest Mclean County
- 29th Avenue Northwest Mclean County
- 30th Street Southwest Mclean County
- 15th Street Northwest 1533, Mclean County
- Mclean County
- Totten Trails Boat Ramp Mclean County
Campgrounds
- Lake Sakakawea Sp - Fishing Point
- Max City Rv Park
- Douglas Creek - Coe
- Hazen Bay Rec Area Campground
- Butte City Park
Paddle runs
Track Audubon Nwr-Impoundment#1 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 Audubon Nwr-Impoundment#1
Where does the data for Audubon Nwr-Impoundment#1 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 Audubon Nwr-Impoundment#1.