Upper Turtle River Flood Ret. 4 is an earth dam located in Grand Forks County, North Dakota, built in 1980. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 52 ft52 ft tall and 1,990 ft long, taller than 93% of U.S. dams with a recorded height. Height is drawn to scale against a ten-story building, about 100 ft; the profile is a generic embankment section and the water level is illustrative.
About Upper Turtle River Flood Ret. 4
The primary purpose of Upper Turtle River Flood Ret. 4 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 North Branch Turtle River near N.
The dam stands 52 feet tall and stretches 1,990 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 19 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 2,700 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 20 square miles. Completed in 1980, the structure is 46 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 fair — the dam has minor deficiencies that are being addressed or do not pose an immediate safety threat. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 09/09/2020.
At 52 feet, this dam is taller than 93% 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 | Grand Forks |
| Nearest City | N |
| River/Stream | North Branch Turtle River |
| Coordinates | 48.03719, -97.80894 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 52 ft |
| Dam Height | 52 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,990 ft |
| Year Completed | 1980 (46 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 2,700 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 2,700 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 128 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 19 acres |
| Drainage Area | 20 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 | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 09/09/2020 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | ND00746 |
| Federal ID | ND00746 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |