Pipestem Dam
Pipestem Dam is an earth dam located in Stutsman County, North Dakota, built in 1974. It carries a High hazard potential classification.
About Pipestem Dam
The primary purpose of Pipestem Dam is flood risk reduction. The dam is designed to control downstream flooding by temporarily storing excess water during storms and releasing it at a controlled rate. The dam is owned by Usace - Omaha District (federal). It impounds the Pipestem Creek near Jamestown.
The dam stands 110 feet tall and stretches 4,000 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 855 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 181,650 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 594 square miles. Completed in 1974, 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. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 09/18/2021.
At 110 feet, this dam is taller than 98% of all dams in the United States.
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 | Stutsman |
| Nearest City | Jamestown |
| River/Stream | Pipestem Creek |
| Coordinates | 46.96175, -98.75250 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 110 ft |
| Dam Length | 4,000 ft |
| Year Completed | 1974 (52 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 181,650 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 181,650 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 9,870 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 855 acres |
| Drainage Area | 594 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 48,600 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | USACE - Omaha District |
| Owner Type | Federal |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Not Available |
| Last Inspection | 09/18/2021 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | ND00146 |
| Federal ID | ND00146 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |