Mcdowell Dam is an earth dam located in Burleigh County, North Dakota, built in 1976. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification.
Dam profile
NID height · 59 ft59 ft tall and 1,370 ft long, taller than 95% of U.S. dams with a recorded height. Height is drawn to scale against a ten-story building, about 100 ft; the profile is a generic embankment section and the water level is illustrative.
About Mcdowell Dam
The primary purpose of Mcdowell Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Burleigh County Wrb (local government). It impounds the Apple Creek-tr near N.
The dam stands 59 feet tall and stretches 1,370 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 59 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 1,479 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 6 square miles. Completed in 1976, the structure is 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 10/13/2022.
At 59 feet, this dam is taller than 95% of all dams in the United States.
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Location
| State | North Dakota |
| County | Burleigh |
| Nearest City | N |
| River/Stream | Apple Creek-tr |
| Coordinates | 46.82509, -100.63319 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 59 ft |
| Dam Height | 51 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,370 ft |
| Year Completed | 1976 (50 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 1,479 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 1,479 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 840 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 59 acres |
| Drainage Area | 6 sq mi |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Burleigh County Wrb |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Not assessed |
| Last Inspection | 10/13/2022 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | ND00039 |
| Federal ID | ND00039 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |