Baldhill Dam
Baldhill Dam is a concrete dam located in Barnes County, North Dakota, built in 1950. It carries a High hazard potential classification.
About Baldhill Dam
The primary purpose of Baldhill 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 Usace - St. Paul District (federal). It impounds the Sheyenne River near Valley City.
The dam stands 60 feet tall and stretches 1,800 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 5,470 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 156,000 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 8,078 square miles. Completed in 1950, the structure is well-established, with more than 75 years of service.
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. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 08/03/2023.
At 60 feet, this dam is taller than 95% 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 | Barnes |
| Nearest City | Valley City |
| River/Stream | Sheyenne River |
| Coordinates | 47.03468, -98.07886 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Concrete |
| NID Height | 60 ft |
| Dam Height | 47 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,800 ft |
| Year Completed | 1950 (76 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 156,000 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 156,000 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 69,500 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 5,470 acres |
| Drainage Area | 8,078 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 126,000 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Controlled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | USACE - St. Paul District |
| Owner Type | Federal |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Not Available |
| Last Inspection | 08/03/2023 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | ND00309 |
| Federal ID | ND00309 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |