Knife River Coal Pond 30 dam
Knife River Coal Pond 30
Knife River Coal Pond 30 in Mercer, North Dakota, is a privately owned earth dam structure with a primary purpose other than flood control or water supply. Completed in 1988, the dam stands at a height of 69 feet, holding a maximum storage capacity of 818 acre-feet and a normal storage of 282.4 acre-feet. The dam spans a surface area of 21.5 acres and covers a drainage area of 4.42 square miles, with an uncontrolled spillway width of 50 feet.
Managed by the North Dakota State Water Commission, Knife River Coal Pond 30 is subject to state regulation and inspection, ensuring compliance with safety standards and enforcement measures. Despite being rated as having a low hazard potential, the dam's condition assessment remains unrated. With a moderate risk assessment level, the structure is equipped with one slide (sluice gate) outlet gate for water release. Although lacking information on emergency action plans and inundation maps, the dam is under the jurisdiction of the Mine Safety and Health Administration for regulatory oversight and inspections.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Knife River Coal Pond 30 presents an intriguing case study of a privately owned earth dam in North Dakota. With its unique purpose and design specifications, the dam offers insights into the management and regulation of non-traditional water infrastructure. As efforts to address climate change and water resource sustainability continue, understanding the intricacies of dam structures like Knife River Coal Pond 30 becomes essential for informed decision-making and environmental stewardship.
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 Knife River Coal Pond 30 -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Spring Creek At Zap | 14 cfs | → |
| Knife River At Hazen | 50 cfs | → |
| Knife River Nr Golden Valley | 10 cfs | → |
| Square Butte Creek Below Center | 1 cfs | → |
| Sweetbriar Creek Nr Judson | 2 cfs | → |
| Deepwater Creek At Mouth Nr Raub | 4 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Knife River Coal Pond 30.
Boat launches
- Beaver Creek Bay Boat Ramp
- Mercer County
- 6th Street Northwest Mercer County
- State Highway 200 Alternate Mercer County
Campgrounds
Paddle runs
Track Knife River Coal Pond 30 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 Knife River Coal Pond 30
Where does the data for Knife River Coal Pond 30 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 Knife River Coal Pond 30.