North Bay Dam dam
North Bay Dam
North Bay Dam, located in North Dakota along the Wild Rice River, was completed in 1965 and is owned and regulated by the Federal agency Fish and Wildlife Service. With a primary purpose of serving as a Fish and Wildlife Pond, the dam stands at a height of 17 feet and has a length of 475 feet. It has a maximum storage capacity of 18,518 acre-feet and covers a surface area of 1,073 acres, providing essential habitat for aquatic life in the region.
Managed by the US Fish and Wildlife Service, North Bay Dam has a low hazard potential and is deemed to be in satisfactory condition as of its last inspection date in August 2019. The dam has undergone modifications in 1989 to improve both its hydraulic and structural components. With a drainage area of 543.2 square miles and a maximum discharge capacity of 6,971 cubic feet per second, North Bay Dam plays a crucial role in regulating water flow and providing flood protection in the surrounding area.
Despite its low hazard potential, North Bay Dam is equipped with other controlled outlet gates and has a spillway width of 35 feet. The dam is inspected every five years to ensure its continued safety and functionality. With its crucial role in supporting the local ecosystem and managing water resources, North Bay Dam stands as a key structure in the region for both water resource and climate enthusiasts.
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 North Bay Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Wild Rice River Nr Rutland | 44 cfs | → |
| Sheyenne River At Lisbon | 244 cfs | → |
| Antelope Creek At Dwight | 21 cfs | → |
| Bear Creek Nr Oakes | 13 cfs | → |
| Little Minnesota River Near Peever | 48 cfs | → |
| Bois De Sioux River Near Doran | 140 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near North Bay Dam .
Track North Bay 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 North Bay Dam
Where does the data for North Bay 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 North Bay Dam .