English Coulee Dam
English Coulee Dam is an earth dam located in Grand Forks County, North Dakota, built in 1990. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About English Coulee Dam
The primary purpose of English Coulee 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 Grand Forks County Wrb (local government). It impounds the English Coulee near Grand Forks.
The dam stands 27 feet tall and stretches 36,960 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 183 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 29,200 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 53 square miles. Completed in 1990, the structure is 36 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 09/10/2020.
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 | Grand Forks |
| Nearest City | Grand Forks |
| River/Stream | English Coulee |
| Coordinates | 47.81543, -97.24192 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 27 ft |
| Dam Height | 27 ft |
| Dam Length | 36,960 ft |
| Year Completed | 1990 (36 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 29,200 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 29,200 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 292 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 183 acres |
| Drainage Area | 53 sq mi |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | Grand Forks County WRB |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 09/10/2020 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | ND00425 |
| Federal ID | ND00425 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |