Lake Darling Dam
Lake Darling Dam is an earth dam located in Ward County, North Dakota, built in 1937. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Lake Darling Dam
The primary purpose of Lake Darling Dam is fish and wildlife pond. The dam creates habitat for fish and wildlife, supporting local ecosystems and potentially serving conservation goals. The dam is owned by Us Fish And Wildlife Service (federal). It impounds the Souris River near Minot, Nd.
The dam stands 39 feet tall and stretches 4,064 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 9,655 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 200,583 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 9,160 square miles. Completed in 1937, 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. 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 08/20/2019.
At 39 feet, this dam is taller than 86% 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 | Ward |
| Nearest City | Minot, Nd |
| River/Stream | Souris River |
| Coordinates | 48.45834, -101.58334 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 39 ft |
| Dam Height | 39 ft |
| Dam Length | 4,064 ft |
| Year Completed | 1937 (89 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 200,583 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 200,583 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 108,894 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 9,655 acres |
| Drainage Area | 9,160 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 60,000 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Controlled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Fish and Wildlife Pond |
| Owner | US FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE |
| Owner Type | Federal |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 08/20/2019 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | ND00332 |
| Federal ID | ND00332 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |