Gordon
Gordon is an earth dam located in Rolette County, North Dakota, built in 1960. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Gordon
The primary purpose of Gordon is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Bia (federal). It impounds the Ox Creek near Belcourt.
The dam stands 10 feet tall and stretches 365 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 164 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 1,643 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 3 square miles. Completed in 1960, the structure is well into its service life at over 50 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 08/26/2020.
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 | Rolette |
| Nearest City | Belcourt |
| River/Stream | Ox Creek |
| Coordinates | 48.91790, -99.77800 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 10 ft |
| Dam Height | 10 ft |
| Dam Length | 365 ft |
| Year Completed | 1960 (66 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 1,643 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 1,643 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 926 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 164 acres |
| Drainage Area | 3 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 1,771 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | BIA |
| Owner Type | Federal |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 08/26/2020 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | ND01068 |
| Federal ID | ND01068 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |