Senator Young Dam dam
Senator Young Dam
Senator Young Dam, also known as Tongue River WS Dam M-3, is a vital earth dam located in Cavalier, North Dakota. Built in 1961 by USDA NRCS, this dam serves the primary purpose of flood risk reduction along the Tongue River. Standing at a height of 84.5 feet and a length of 1529 feet, it has a storage capacity of 5971 acre-feet and covers a surface area of 38.5 acres, with a drainage area of 53.8 square miles.
Despite its crucial role in managing water resources, Senator Young Dam is facing challenges with a high hazard potential and poor condition assessment as of April 2021. The dam's spillway, an uncontrolled type with a width of 300 feet, helps regulate water flow during peak discharge events. However, with only one slide gate for outlet control, there are concerns about the dam's ability to withstand extreme conditions. The dam is under the regulatory oversight of NDSWC and undergoes regular inspections, although it has not been modified in recent years.
As water resource and climate enthusiasts monitor the status of Senator Young Dam, the need for risk management measures becomes apparent. With a moderate risk assessment rating of 3, there is a call for improving the dam's condition to ensure its effectiveness in flood risk reduction. As efforts continue to maintain and enhance this critical infrastructure, stakeholders are reminded of the importance of investing in the resilience of water resources for the future.
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 Senator Young 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 | → |
| Park River At Grafton | 54 cfs | → |
| Forest River Nr Fordville | 78 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Senator Young Dam.
Boat launches
Campgrounds
- Legion - Mountain
- Walhalla Riverside City Park
- Icelandic State Park
- Langdon City Park
- Mount Carmel Rec Area
- Crystal City Park
More reservoirs
Track Senator Young 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 Senator Young Dam
Where does the data for Senator Young 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 Senator Young Dam.