Hunter Dam
Hunter Dam is an earth dam located in Cass County, North Dakota, built in 1960. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
About Hunter Dam
The primary purpose of Hunter Dam is water supply. The dam stores water for municipal, industrial, or agricultural use, helping ensure a reliable supply for the surrounding area. The dam is owned by City Of Hunter (local government). It impounds the South Branch Elm River near Hunter.
The dam stands 26 feet tall and stretches 810 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 64 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 711 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 15 square miles. Completed in 1960, the structure is well into its service life at over 50 years old.
This dam carries a high hazard potential classification, which means that a failure or uncontrolled release of water would likely cause loss of human life. This classification reflects the consequences of failure, not the likelihood — it indicates that people live or work in the area downstream. Its condition is rated fair — the dam has minor deficiencies that are being addressed or do not pose an immediate safety threat. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 10/08/2020.
Living Downstream
If you live or work downstream of this dam, consider taking these steps: learn your local evacuation routes, check whether your county emergency management office has a dam failure inundation map, and sign up for local emergency alerts. The North Dakota dam safety program can provide more specific information about emergency planning for this structure.
Search for dams near your address to see all dams in your area with hazard classifications and safety data.
Location
| State | North Dakota |
| County | Cass |
| Nearest City | Hunter |
| River/Stream | South Branch Elm River |
| Coordinates | 47.18979, -97.22634 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 26 ft |
| Dam Height | 21 ft |
| Dam Length | 810 ft |
| Year Completed | 1960 (66 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 711 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 711 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 390 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 64 acres |
| Drainage Area | 15 sq mi |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Water Supply |
| Owner | City of Hunter |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 10/08/2020 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | ND00028 |
| Federal ID | ND00028 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |