Minto Dam dam
Minto Dam
Minto Dam, located in North Dakota along the Forest River, was completed in 1938 by the Works Progress Administration (WPA) and serves as a crucial water supply structure for the city of Minto. This masonry dam stands at a height of 13.8 feet and has a storage capacity of 83 acre-feet, with a normal storage level of 65 acre-feet. With a surface area of 35 acres and a drainage area of 544 square miles, the dam plays a vital role in managing water resources in the region.
Although Minto Dam has a low hazard potential and is currently rated as "Not Rated" in terms of condition assessment, it has undergone structural modifications in 1956 and 1973. The spillway of the dam, which is uncontrolled and has a width of 64 feet, helps to manage excess water flow during heavy rainfall events. The dam's risk assessment is moderate, indicating a level 3 risk, and it is under the jurisdiction of the North Dakota State Water Commission (NDSWC) for regulatory oversight.
Overall, Minto Dam is a key infrastructure for water supply in the region, providing essential resources for the community of Minto. With its historical significance and ongoing maintenance and inspection, the dam continues to play a vital role in water resource management and climate resilience 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 Minto Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Forest River At Minto | 89 cfs | → |
| Park River At Grafton | 54 cfs | → |
| Forest River Nr Fordville | 78 cfs | → |
| Red River Of The North At Drayton | 3,490 cfs | → |
| Middle River At Argyle | 20 cfs | → |
| Turtle River At Turtle R State Park Nr Arvilla | 34 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Minto Dam.
Boat launches
- State Highway 54 Walsh County
- 35th Avenue Northeast Grand Forks County
- 132nd Avenue Northeast Walsh County
- 162nd Avenue Northeast 8100, Pembina County
- County Road 14 Walsh County
- Greenway Path Grand Forks
Campgrounds
- Minto City Park
- Leistikow City Park
- Oslo City Park
- Alvarado City Park
- Fordville Dam And Rec Area
- Schumacher Park
More reservoirs
Track Minto 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 Minto Dam
Where does the data for Minto 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 Minto Dam.