Fessenden Dam

Fessenden Dam is an earth dam located in Wells County, North Dakota, built in 1934. It carries a Low hazard potential classification.

About Fessenden Dam

The primary purpose of Fessenden Dam is fire protection, stock, or small fish pond. The dam maintains a small impoundment used for fire suppression, livestock watering, or as a fish pond. The dam is owned by Wells County Wrb (local government). It impounds the James River near New Rockford.

The dam stands 10 feet tall and stretches 300 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 86 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 430 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 7,310 square miles. Completed in 1934, 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 04/02/1970. That was over 56 years ago.

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Low HazardNot Rated ConditionEmergency Action Plan: Not Required

Location

StateNorth Dakota
CountyWells
Nearest CityNew Rockford
River/StreamJames River
Coordinates47.69681, -99.60553

Physical Characteristics

Dam TypeEarth
NID Height10 ft
Dam Height10 ft
Dam Length300 ft
Year Completed1934 (92 years old)

Storage & Hydraulics

NID Storage430 acre-ft
Max Storage430 acre-ft
Normal Storage430 acre-ft
Surface Area86 acres
Drainage Area7,310 sq mi
Spillway TypeUncontrolled

Ownership & Safety

PurposeFire Protection, Stock, Or Small Fish Pond
OwnerWells County WRB
Owner TypeLocal Government
Hazard ClassificationLow
Condition AssessmentNot Rated
Last Inspection04/02/1970
Emergency Action PlanNot Required

Identifiers

NID IDND00063
Federal IDND00063
More InfoState Dam Safety Program

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