Earl Dam; Douglas dam
Earl Dam; Douglas
Earl Dam in Douglas, North Dakota, is a privately owned earth dam designed by USDA NRCS, completed in 1960 for fire protection, stock, and small fish pond purposes. This dam on the Fresh Water Coulee has a height of 12 feet and a storage capacity of 339.1 acre-feet. The dam's spillway is uncontrolled with a width of 360 feet, and it has an outlet gate for controlled water release.
Managed by the NDSWC, Earl Dam has a low hazard potential and is considered to have a moderate risk level. The dam's condition is currently not rated, with the last known modifications made in 1989 for hydraulic and structural improvements. Located in Grand Forks County, this dam plays a crucial role in water resource management and provides essential services to the local community, ensuring water availability for firefighting, livestock, and recreational fishing activities.
While the dam's inspection frequency and emergency preparedness details are not specified, it is reassuring to know that the dam is regulated, permitted, inspected, and enforced by the state authorities. With its strategic location and functional design, Earl Dam stands as a reliable water resource infrastructure, contributing to the region's resilience against climate challenges and safeguarding water availability for various needs in Douglas and its surrounding areas.
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 Earl Dam; Douglas -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Red River Of The North At Grand Forks | 2,520 cfs | → |
| Turtle River At Turtle R State Park Nr Arvilla | 34 cfs | → |
| Red River Of The North Near Thompson | 1,990 cfs | → |
| Red Lake River At Fisher | 750 cfs | → |
| Goose River Near Portland | 45 cfs | → |
| Forest River At Minto | 89 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Earl Dam; Douglas.
Boat launches
- Greenway Path Grand Forks
- Grand Forks
- Old Greenway Path East Grand Forks
- 3rd Avenue Southeast East Grand Forks
- State Highway 54 Walsh County
- Us Highway 75 Polk County
Track Earl Dam; Douglas 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 Earl Dam; Douglas
Where does the data for Earl Dam; Douglas 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 Earl Dam; Douglas.