Bylin Dam
Bylin Dam is an earth dam located in Walsh County, North Dakota, built in 1964. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
About Bylin Dam
The primary purpose of Bylin 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 North Branch Forest River near Fordville.
The dam stands 60 feet tall and stretches 760 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 59 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 5,850 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 22 square miles. Completed in 1964, 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 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 60 feet, this dam is taller than 95% 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 | Walsh |
| Nearest City | Fordville |
| River/Stream | North Branch Forest River |
| Coordinates | 48.36752, -98.00916 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 60 ft |
| Dam Height | 58 ft |
| Dam Length | 760 ft |
| Year Completed | 1964 (62 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 5,850 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 5,850 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 708 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 59 acres |
| Drainage Area | 22 sq mi |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | Walsh County WRB |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 08/31/2021 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | ND00036 |
| Federal ID | ND00036 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |