Fordville Dam
Fordville Dam is an earth dam located in Grand Forks County, North Dakota, built in 1978. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
About Fordville Dam
The primary purpose of Fordville 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 Grand Forks County Wrb (local government). It impounds the South Branch Forest River near Forest R.colony.
The dam stands 54 feet tall and stretches 1,875 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 197 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 10,703 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 41 square miles. Completed in 1978, the structure is 48 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 poor, meaning the dam has recognized safety deficiencies that require remediation to address risks. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 08/31/2021.
At 54 feet, this dam is taller than 94% of dams nationwide.
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 | Grand Forks |
| Nearest City | Forest R.colony |
| River/Stream | South Branch Forest River |
| Coordinates | 48.17857, -97.75499 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 54 ft |
| Dam Height | 54 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,875 ft |
| Year Completed | 1978 (48 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 10,703 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 10,703 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 2,185 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 197 acres |
| Drainage Area | 41 sq mi |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | Grand Forks County WRB |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 08/31/2021 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | ND00386 |
| Federal ID | ND00386 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |