Yanktonai Dam dam
Yanktonai Dam
Yanktonai Dam, located in McLean, North Dakota, along Yanktonai Creek, is a local government-owned structure with a primary purpose of recreation. Completed in 1935 by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), this earth dam stands at a height of 21 feet and spans 400 feet in length. With a storage capacity of 600 acre-feet and a surface area of 200 acres, the dam serves as a popular spot for outdoor enthusiasts seeking recreational activities such as fishing and boating.
Managed by the North Dakota State Water Commission (NDSWC), Yanktonai Dam is regulated, permitted, inspected, and enforced by state authorities, ensuring its safety and compliance with regulations. The dam has undergone modifications in 1952 to enhance its structural integrity. Classified as having a significant hazard potential and moderate risk level, Yanktonai Dam serves as a vital water resource for the region, providing both recreational opportunities and flood control measures. Despite not being rated for condition assessment, the dam continues to be a key feature in the local landscape, offering a picturesque setting for visitors and residents alike.
With its uncontrolled spillway and stone core, Yanktonai Dam remains a significant structure in the St. Paul District, attracting visitors for its scenic beauty and outdoor activities. As a part of the broader water resource management in North Dakota, the dam plays a crucial role in balancing the needs of recreation with the demands of flood control and water storage. As climate change continues to impact water resources, structures like Yanktonai Dam will be essential in ensuring sustainable access to water and recreation for future generations.
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 Yanktonai Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Square Butte Creek Below Center | 1 cfs | → |
| Burnt Creek Nr Bismarck | 1 cfs | → |
| Heart River Nr Mandan | 74 cfs | → |
| Missouri River At Bismarck | 17,600 cfs | → |
| Hay Creek At Main Avenue In Bismarck | 4 cfs | → |
| Apple Creek Nr Menoken | 116 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Yanktonai Dam.
Boat launches
- Oliver County
- Mclean County
- River Road Oliver County
- State Highway 200 Alternate Washburn
- Burleigh County
- Sheridan County
Campgrounds
- Crown Butte Dam
- Sweetbriar Lake - Southeast Ramp - Nd Gfd
- Sweet Briar Lake
- Sweetbriar Lake-Northwest Ramp - Nd Gfd
- General Sibley City Park
Paddle runs
Track Yanktonai 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 Yanktonai Dam
Where does the data for Yanktonai 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 Yanktonai Dam.