Matejcek Dam
Matejcek Dam is an earth dam located in Walsh County, North Dakota, built in 1966. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
About Matejcek Dam
The primary purpose of Matejcek 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 Middle Branch Forest River near Fordville.
The dam stands 76 feet tall and stretches 1,175 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 134 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 9,000 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 155 square miles. Completed in 1966, 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 11/02/2022.
At 76 feet, this dam is taller than 97% 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 | Middle Branch Forest River |
| Coordinates | 48.22566, -97.92771 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 76 ft |
| Dam Height | 76 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,175 ft |
| Year Completed | 1966 (60 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 9,000 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 9,000 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 2,746 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 134 acres |
| Drainage Area | 155 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 | 11/02/2022 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | ND00043 |
| Federal ID | ND00043 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |