Jim Dam dam
Jim Dam
Jim Dam, also known as Jim Lake, is a Federal-owned structure located in Jamestown, North Dakota, along the James River. Built in 1937 by the US Fish and Wildlife Service and US Bureau of Reclamation, this Earth dam stands at a height of 9 feet and has a length of 1850 feet. Its primary purpose is to serve as a Fish and Wildlife Pond, providing a habitat for various species in the area.
Despite its low hazard potential and not being currently rated for condition assessment, Jim Dam is regulated by the North Dakota State Water Commission and undergoes inspection, permitting, and enforcement by state authorities. The dam has a storage capacity of 5350 acre-feet and plays a crucial role in managing water resources in the region. However, there are no spillways or outlet gates associated with the structure, highlighting the importance of effective risk management measures and emergency preparedness.
With a high risk assessment rating of 2, Jim Dam presents a potential risk of inundation and requires close monitoring and adherence to guidelines for emergency action planning. While the dam has not been modified in recent years and has no associated structures, its strategic location within the Stutsman County highlights its significance in water resource management and environmental conservation efforts in the region.
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 Jim Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Pipestem Creek Nr Pingree | 25 cfs | → |
| James River Above Arrowwood Lake Nr Kensal | 36 cfs | → |
| James River At Jamestown | 325 cfs | → |
| James River Nr Grace City | 28 cfs | → |
| Baldhill Creek Nr Dazey | 29 cfs | → |
| Sheyenne River Below Baldhill Dam | 673 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Jim Dam.
Boat launches
- 83rd Avenue Southeast Stutsman County
- 30th Street Southeast Stutsman County
- Stutsman County
- 9th Street Northeast Foster County
Track Jim 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 Jim Dam
Where does the data for Jim 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 Jim Dam.