Mount Carmel Dam dam
Mount Carmel Dam
Mount Carmel Dam, located in Cavalier, North Dakota, is a local government-owned structure built in 1971 with a primary purpose of recreation. The dam stands at a height of 46.5 feet and has a length of 650 feet, creating a storage capacity of 10,707 acre-feet on the Little South Pembina River. With a surface area of 386 acres and a drainage area of 72 square miles, the dam serves as a significant water resource in the region.
Managed by the North Dakota State Water Commission, Mount Carmel Dam has a spillway width of 100 feet and is classified as having a significant hazard potential. Although its condition assessment is not rated, the dam underwent structural modifications in 2004. Equipped with one valve and one vertical lift outlet gate, the dam plays a vital role in water management and flood control in the area. Despite moderate risk assessment, the dam continues to provide essential water resources for the community and serves as a popular recreational destination.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Mount Carmel Dam represents a key infrastructure project in North Dakota that combines water storage and recreational opportunities. With its earth dam construction and stone core, the dam showcases a blend of engineering and natural elements. Its location on the Little South Pembina River and close proximity to Walhalla make it a valuable asset for water management in the region. As a regulated and inspected structure, Mount Carmel Dam highlights the importance of maintaining and monitoring critical water resources for both safety and sustainability.
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 Mount Carmel Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Little South Pembina River Nr Walhalla | 17 cfs | → |
| Pembina River At Walhalla | 755 cfs | → |
| Tongue River At Akra | 0 cfs | → |
| Pembina River At Neche | 901 cfs | → |
| Edmore Coulee Nr Edmore | 33 cfs | → |
| Edmore Coulee Trib Nr Webster | 59 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Mount Carmel Dam.
Track Mount Carmel 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 Mount Carmel Dam
Where does the data for Mount Carmel 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 Significant 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 Mount Carmel Dam.