Queen City Dam dam
Queen City Dam
Queen City Dam, located in Dickinson, North Dakota, is a vital structure for irrigation purposes along the Heart River. Built in 1900 by NPRR, it stands at a height of 16.2 meters and has a length of 1050 meters, providing a maximum storage capacity of 360 acre-feet. Despite its age, the dam is still in use and regulated by the North Dakota State Water Commission, ensuring its safety and functionality.
The dam's condition has been assessed as poor, with a high hazard potential, prompting the need for regular inspections and maintenance. In 1967, structural modifications were made to improve its stability. The risk assessment categorizes the dam as moderate, indicating the importance of implementing appropriate risk management measures. With a history of serving the local community for over a century, Queen City Dam remains a key asset for water resource management in the region.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Queen City Dam offers a fascinating glimpse into the intersection of infrastructure, hydrology, and environmental stewardship. Its historical significance, engineering design, and ongoing regulatory oversight present a compelling case study for the importance of maintaining and managing water resources effectively. As efforts continue to ensure the dam's safety and functionality, it stands as a testament to the enduring impact of human intervention in shaping our relationship with water and the environment.
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 Queen City Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Heart River Nr South Heart | 1 cfs | → |
| Green River Nr New Hradec | 1 cfs | → |
| Knife River At Manning | 1 cfs | → |
| Heart River Nr Richardton | 22 cfs | → |
| Little Missouri River At Medora | 86 cfs | → |
| Cannonball River At Regent | 4 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Queen City Dam.
Boat launches
- 30th Avenue Southwest Stark County
- 8th Street Southwest Stark County
- 114th Avenue Southwest Stark County
Campgrounds
- Patterson Lake Rec Area Campground
- Belfield Dam - Nd Gfd
- New England South Park
- Schnell Recreation Area
- Camp Site 1
- Camp Site 2
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 Queen City 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 Queen City Dam
Where does the data for Queen City 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 Queen City Dam.