Acorn Ridge
Acorn Ridge is a dam located in Ramsey County, North Dakota, built in 2012. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Acorn Ridge
The primary purpose of Acorn Ridge 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 City Of Devils Lake (local government). It impounds the Devils Lake.
The dam stands 37 feet tall, and has a maximum storage capacity of 7,173,400 acre-feet. Completed in 2012, the structure is relatively new.
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 satisfactory, indicating no existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. Notably, no emergency action plan is currently on file for this high-hazard dam. The most recent inspection on record was 10/18/2017. That was 8 years ago, which is on the longer end for a high-hazard structure.
At 37 feet, this dam is taller than 84% 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 | Ramsey |
| River/Stream | Devils Lake |
| Coordinates | 48.05710, -98.88666 |
Physical Characteristics
| NID Height | 37 ft |
| Dam Height | 37 ft |
| Year Completed | 2012 (14 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 7,173,400 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 7,173,400 acre-ft |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | City of Devils Lake |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 10/18/2017 |
| Emergency Action Plan | No |
Identifiers
| NID ID | ND01072 |
| Federal ID | ND01072 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |