Minot Water Supply Dam dam
Minot Water Supply Dam
The Minot Water Supply Dam, located on the Souris River in Ward County, North Dakota, was completed in 1966 by the North Dakota State Water Commission (NDSWC). The dam is primarily used for water supply purposes, with a storage capacity of 250 acre-feet and a normal storage level of 170 acre-feet. The dam is made of concrete and has a height of 16 feet and a length of 130 feet, with a controlled spillway width of 65 feet.
Despite being classified as having a low hazard potential, the Minot Water Supply Dam is considered to have a very high risk due to its location and the potential impact of a failure. The dam underwent structural modifications in 1979 and is inspected regularly by the NDSWC to ensure its safety and integrity. The dam is state-regulated and meets all state permitting, inspection, and enforcement requirements to maintain its operational status.
Managed by the local government in Minot, the dam plays a crucial role in providing water to the surrounding area. With its strategic location on the Souris River, the Minot Water Supply Dam serves as a vital infrastructure for water resource management and climate resilience in the region, highlighting the importance of sound engineering and regulatory oversight in ensuring the safety and reliability of water supply systems.
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 Minot Water Supply Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Souris River Above Minot | 10 cfs | → |
| Souris River Nr Foxholm | 0 cfs | → |
| Des Lacs River At Foxholm | 0 cfs | → |
| Souris River Nr Verendrye | 30 cfs | → |
| Deep River Nr Upham | 23 cfs | → |
| Wintering River Nr Karlsruhe | 21 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Minot Water Supply Dam.
Boat launches
- North Rice Lake Road 219, Ward County
- County Highway 6 Ward County
- 73rd Street Northwest Renville County
- 303rd Avenue Southwest Ward County
- 18th Avenue North Ward County
- County Road 26 Renville County
Track Minot Water Supply 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 Minot Water Supply Dam
Where does the data for Minot Water Supply 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 Minot Water Supply Dam.