Cuba Dam dam
Cuba Dam
Cuba Dam, located in Barnes, North Dakota, is a locally owned Earth dam designed by the CCC and completed in 1935 for the primary purpose of recreation. Standing at a height of 11 feet and with a length of 300 feet, the dam has a storage capacity of 100 acre-feet. The dam's spillway, with a width of 40 feet, is uncontrolled, and the hazard potential is rated as low. The dam is situated on the Maple River and is under the regulatory jurisdiction of NDSWC.
Despite being built almost a century ago, Cuba Dam remains in a moderate risk condition with a risk assessment rating of 3. The last inspection of the dam was conducted in 1974, and its condition is currently not rated. While the dam does not have an emergency action plan in place, it is regularly inspected, permitted, and enforced by the state regulatory agency, indicating a commitment to ensuring its safety and functionality. With its picturesque surroundings and recreational opportunities, Cuba Dam continues to be a valuable water resource for the community.
Water resource and climate enthusiasts will appreciate Cuba Dam for its historical significance, recreational offerings, and the balance it strikes between risk management and regulatory oversight. Its design and construction by the CCC, along with its low hazard potential and moderate risk assessment, showcase a successful example of sustainable water infrastructure. As a locally owned dam in North Dakota, it serves as a reminder of the importance of maintaining and monitoring aging water structures to ensure the safety and well-being of communities 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 Cuba Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Maple River Nr Enderlin | 39 cfs | → |
| Sheyenne River Below Baldhill Dam | 259 cfs | → |
| Sheyenne River At Lisbon | 302 cfs | → |
| Rush River At Amenia | 4 cfs | → |
| Baldhill Creek Nr Dazey | 41 cfs | → |
| Maple River Nr Mapleton | 55 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Cuba Dam.
Track Cuba 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 Cuba Dam
Where does the data for Cuba 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 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 Cuba Dam.