Pesek Dam; James dam
Pesek Dam; James
Pesek Dam, located in McKenzie County, North Dakota, is a privately owned structure designed by the USDA NRCS and completed in 1977 for irrigation purposes. This earth dam, standing at a height of 14.8 feet and with a length of 759 feet, impounds Camp Creek and provides a storage capacity of 107 acre-feet, with a normal storage level of 67 acre-feet. The dam covers a surface area of 10 acres and drains a watershed area of 1.56 square miles.
Despite being classified as having low hazard potential, Pesek Dam is regulated by the North Dakota State Water Commission and undergoes regular inspections, permitting, and enforcement measures to ensure its safety and functionality. The dam features an uncontrolled spillway with a width of 100 feet and does not have outlet gates. With a moderate risk rating of 3, the dam has no emergency action plan in place, and its condition assessment is currently listed as "Not Rated."
Water resource and climate enthusiasts will find Pesek Dam an intriguing example of a privately owned irrigation structure in North Dakota with a significant impact on local water resources. The dam's design, construction, and regulatory oversight provide valuable insights into the management of water infrastructure in the region, highlighting the importance of maintaining and monitoring such structures for both agricultural and environmental purposes.
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 Pesek Dam; James -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Charbonneau Creek Nr Charbonneau | 0 cfs | → |
| Yellowstone River Near Sidney Mt | 16,600 cfs | → |
| Little Muddy River Bl Cow Creek Nr Williston | 22 cfs | → |
| Little Missouri River Nr Watford City | 37 cfs | → |
| Missouri River Near Culbertson Mt | 5,700 cfs | → |
| Bear Den Creek Nr Mandaree | 7 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Pesek Dam; James.
Track Pesek Dam; James 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 Pesek Dam; James
Where does the data for Pesek Dam; James 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 Pesek Dam; James.