Sarnia Dam is an earth dam located in Nelson County, North Dakota, built in 1936. It carries a Low hazard potential classification.
Dam profile
NID height · 20 ft20 ft tall and 500 ft long. 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 Sarnia Dam
The primary purpose of Sarnia 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 Nelson County Wrb (local government). It impounds the Middle Branch Forest River near N.
The dam stands 20 feet tall and stretches 500 feet across, has a maximum storage capacity of 1,610 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 26 square miles. Completed in 1936, the structure is well-established, with more than 75 years of service.
This dam has a low hazard potential classification, meaning that failure would cause minimal damage, limited primarily to the dam owner's property, with no expected loss of life. The most recent inspection on record was 05/09/2018.
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Location
| State | North Dakota |
| County | Nelson |
| Nearest City | N |
| River/Stream | Middle Branch Forest River |
| Coordinates | 48.15316, -98.08435 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 20 ft |
| Dam Height | 20 ft |
| Dam Length | 500 ft |
| Year Completed | 1936 (90 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 1,610 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 1,610 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 1 acre-ft |
| Drainage Area | 26 sq mi |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | Nelson County Wrb |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | Low |
| Condition Assessment | Not assessed |
| Last Inspection | 05/09/2018 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Not Required |
Identifiers
| NID ID | ND00061 |
| Federal ID | ND00061 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |