Renwick Dam
Renwick Dam is an earth dam located in Pembina County, North Dakota, built in 1962. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Renwick Dam
The primary purpose of Renwick 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 Pembina County Wrb (local government). It impounds the Tongue River near Cavalier.
The dam stands 49 feet tall and stretches 1,400 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 223 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 11,658 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 144 square miles. Completed in 1962, 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 satisfactory, indicating no existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 11/03/2022.
At 49 feet, this dam is taller than 92% 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 | Pembina |
| Nearest City | Cavalier |
| River/Stream | Tongue River |
| Coordinates | 48.77792, -97.74937 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 49 ft |
| Dam Height | 49 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,400 ft |
| Year Completed | 1962 (64 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 11,658 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 11,658 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 1,478 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 223 acres |
| Drainage Area | 144 sq mi |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | Pembina County WRB |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 11/03/2022 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | ND00054 |
| Federal ID | ND00054 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |