Mathern Dam dam
Mathern Dam
Mathern Dam, also known as Potsdam Dam, is a private earth dam located in Dickey County, North Dakota. Built in 1936, this dam serves primarily as a Fish and Wildlife Pond, providing crucial habitat for various species in the area. With a height of 10.9 feet and a length of 384 feet, Mathern Dam has a storage capacity of 203.2 acre-feet, with a normal storage level of 79.5 acre-feet.
The dam is situated on the South Fork Maple River-TR, under the regulatory oversight of the North Dakota State Water Commission. Despite its age, Mathern Dam has a low hazard potential and is currently not rated in terms of its condition. The spillway, with a width of 160 feet, is uncontrolled, allowing for natural overflow during peak flow events. The risk assessment for the dam indicates a moderate risk level (3), prompting the need for ongoing monitoring and risk management measures to ensure its structural integrity and safety.
Overall, Mathern Dam stands as a vital resource for fish and wildlife preservation in the region, showcasing the importance of sustainable water resource management in the face of changing climate conditions. With its historical significance and ecological value, this earth dam serves as a testament to the intersection of human infrastructure and environmental conservation, highlighting the need for continued stewardship and protection of our water resources for future generations.
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 Mathern Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| James River At Lamoure | 495 cfs | → |
| Maple R At Nd-Sd State Line | 14 cfs | → |
| Bear Creek Nr Oakes | 15 cfs | → |
| James River At Nd-Sd State Line | 691 cfs | → |
| Elm R At Westport Sd | 32 cfs | → |
| James River At Jamestown | 512 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Mathern Dam.
Track Mathern 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 Mathern Dam
Where does the data for Mathern 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 Mathern Dam.