Hanson Dam dam
Hanson Dam
Hanson Dam, also known as Center Twp Dam, is a concrete gravity dam located on the Wild Rice River in Richland County, North Dakota. Built in 1936 by the Works Progress Administration (WPA), this dam serves multiple purposes including fire protection, stock watering, and maintaining a small fish pond. With a height of 9 feet and a length of 110 feet, Hanson Dam has a storage capacity of 60 acre-feet and a surface area of 20 acres.
Managed by the local government, Hanson Dam is regulated by the North Dakota State Water Commission (NDSWC) and undergoes regular inspections to ensure its structural integrity. Despite being classified as having a low hazard potential, the dam's condition assessment is currently not rated. In the event of an emergency, Hanson Dam does not have outlet gates and relies on an uncontrolled spillway with a width of 70 feet. While the risk assessment for the dam is moderate, management measures and emergency action plans are not readily available.
Water resource and climate enthusiasts interested in Hanson Dam can appreciate its historical significance as a WPA project and its role in providing essential services to the surrounding community. While the dam's hazard potential is low, ongoing assessments and preparedness for emergencies are areas that may require attention to ensure the continued safety and functionality of this vital infrastructure. As part of the Wild Rice River watershed, Hanson Dam contributes to the local ecosystem and water management efforts in North Dakota.
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 Hanson Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Antelope Creek At Dwight | 24 cfs | → |
| Red River Of The North At Wahpeton | 715 cfs | → |
| Bois De Sioux River Near Doran | 93 cfs | → |
| Wild Rice River Nr Abercrombie | 90 cfs | → |
| Otter Tail River Bl Orwell D Nr Fergus Falls | 489 cfs | → |
| Red River Of The North At Hickson | 795 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Hanson Dam.
Track Hanson 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 Hanson Dam
Where does the data for Hanson 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 Hanson Dam.