Williams Company Dam dam
Williams Company Dam
Williams Company Dam, located in Stutsman, North Dakota, is a privately owned Earth dam designed by USDA NRCS with a primary purpose of recreation. Completed in 1968, the dam stands at a height of 16 feet and spans 480 feet, creating a reservoir with a storage capacity of 52 acre-feet. Despite its relatively low hazard potential and moderate risk assessment rating, the dam is regulated and inspected by the NDSWC, with state permitting, inspection, and enforcement in place to ensure its safety and compliance with regulations.
The dam features an uncontrolled spillway with a width of 60 feet and has a surface area of 6 acres, serving as a popular recreational spot for locals and visitors alike. With a drainage area of 0.7 square miles and a normal storage capacity of 34 acre-feet, the dam provides not only recreational opportunities but also contributes to the local water resources and ecosystem. Although the dam's condition is currently rated as "Not Rated," its risk management measures and emergency action plan readiness are areas that may require further attention to ensure the safety of the surrounding community and the integrity of the dam structure.
Overall, Williams Company Dam plays a vital role in water resource management and climate resilience efforts in North Dakota. As a key piece of infrastructure in the region, the dam serves as a reminder of the importance of maintaining and monitoring dams to mitigate risks and ensure the sustainable use of water resources. With proper oversight and regular inspections, Williams Company Dam continues to stand as a testament to the intersection of human ingenuity and environmental stewardship in the face of changing climate patterns.
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 Williams Company Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| James River At Jamestown | 489 cfs | → |
| Pipestem Creek Nr Pingree | 86 cfs | → |
| James River At Lamoure | 505 cfs | → |
| James River Above Arrowwood Lake Nr Kensal | 41 cfs | → |
| Sheyenne River Below Baldhill Dam | 259 cfs | → |
| Baldhill Creek Nr Dazey | 41 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Williams Company Dam.
Boat launches
- Hehn-Schaffer Lake Boating Access
- 53rd Avenue Southeast Logan County
- Stutsman County
- 30th Street Southeast Stutsman County
- 83rd Avenue Southeast Stutsman County
Track Williams Company 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 Williams Company Dam
Where does the data for Williams Company 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 Williams Company Dam.