Whitman Dam
Whitman Dam is an earth dam located in Nelson County, North Dakota, built in 1965. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification.
About Whitman Dam
The primary purpose of Whitman 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 Walsh County Wrb (local government). It impounds the Middle Branch Forest River near N.
The dam stands 49 feet tall and stretches 1,200 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 143 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 9,364 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 84 square miles. Completed in 1965, the structure is well into its service life at over 50 years old.
This dam has a significant hazard potential classification, meaning that a failure could cause significant economic damage — flooding roads, bridges, or property downstream — but is not expected to result in loss of life. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 08/09/2017.
At 49 feet, this dam is taller than 92% of dams nationwide.
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Location
| State | North Dakota |
| County | Nelson |
| Nearest City | N |
| River/Stream | Middle Branch Forest River |
| Coordinates | 48.18205, -98.05716 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 49 ft |
| Dam Height | 49 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,200 ft |
| Year Completed | 1965 (61 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 9,364 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 9,364 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 1,355 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 143 acres |
| Drainage Area | 84 sq mi |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | Walsh County WRB |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Not Rated |
| Last Inspection | 08/09/2017 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | ND00207 |
| Federal ID | ND00207 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |