Elm River Detention Dam 2 is an earth dam located in Traill County, North Dakota, built in 1966. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification.
Dam profile
NID height · 36 ft36 ft tall and 1,800 ft long, taller than 82% of U.S. dams with a recorded height. Height is drawn to scale against a two-story house, about 25 ft; the profile is a generic embankment section and the water level is illustrative.
About Elm River Detention Dam 2
The primary purpose of Elm River Detention Dam 2 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 Traill County Wrb (local government). It impounds the Elm River near N.
The dam stands 36 feet tall and stretches 1,800 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 107 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 6,040 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 74 square miles. Completed in 1966, 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 08/18/2021.
At 36 feet, this dam is taller than 82% of dams nationwide.
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Location
| State | North Dakota |
| County | Traill |
| Nearest City | N |
| River/Stream | Elm River |
| Coordinates | 47.30948, -97.35926 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 36 ft |
| Dam Height | 36 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,800 ft |
| Year Completed | 1966 (60 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 6,040 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 6,040 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 468 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 107 acres |
| Drainage Area | 74 sq mi |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | Traill County Wrb |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Not assessed |
| Last Inspection | 08/18/2021 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | ND00042 |
| Federal ID | ND00042 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |