Oldest Dams in North Dakota
North Dakota has 817 dams with recorded construction dates. The oldest dates to 1881 — 145 years ago. North Dakota's earliest dams were built in the 19th century, an era of westward expansion, irrigation development, and early water infrastructure. Older dams require particular attention for safety, as many were built before modern engineering standards.
| # | Dam | County | Year Built | Age | Height (ft) | Hazard | Condition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fort Ransom Dam | Ransom | 1881 | 145 yrs | 15 | Low | Not Rated |
| 2 | Valley City Mill Dam | Barnes | 1882 | 144 yrs | 24 | Low | Not Rated |
| 3 | Lisbon Dam | Ransom | 1890 | 136 yrs | 19 | Low | Not Rated |
| 4 | Jamestown Ice House Dam | Stutsman | 1890 | 136 yrs | 8 | Low | Not Rated |
| 5 | Ray Railroad Dam | Williams | 1890 | 136 yrs | 20 | Low | Not Rated |
| 6 | Queen City Dam | Stark | 1900 | 126 yrs | 34 | High | Poor |
| 7 | Niagara Railroad Dam 1 | Grand Forks | 1905 | 121 yrs | 16 | Low | Not Rated |
| 8 | North Lemmon Lake Dam | Adams | 1908 | 118 yrs | 37 | Significant | Not Rated |
| 9 | Sykeston Dam | Wells | 1908 | 118 yrs | 27 | Low | Not Rated |
| 10 | Mirror Lake Dam | Adams | 1909 | 117 yrs | 19 | Significant | Not Rated |
| 11 | Glen Ullin Railroad Dam 1 | Morton | 1909 | 117 yrs | 16 | Low | Not Rated |
| 12 | Raleigh Dam | Grant | 1910 | 116 yrs | 54 | Significant | Not Rated |
| 13 | Mott City Dam | Hettinger | 1910 | 116 yrs | 25 | Low | Not Rated |
| 14 | Flasher Dam | Morton | 1910 | 116 yrs | 12 | Low | Not Rated |
| 15 | Mcville Railroad Dam | Nelson | 1910 | 116 yrs | 37 | Significant | Not Rated |
| 16 | Belfield Railroad Dam | Stark | 1910 | 116 yrs | 20 | Significant | Not Rated |
| 17 | Koldok Railroad Dam | Barnes | 1911 | 115 yrs | 15 | Low | Not Rated |
| 18 | Williams Dam S W | Golden Valley | 1920 | 106 yrs | 15 | Low | Not Rated |
| 19 | Cathay Dam | Wells | 1920 | 106 yrs | 11 | Low | Not Rated |
| 20 | Harvey Dam | Wells | 1920 | 106 yrs | 35 | Significant | Not Rated |
| 21 | Grand Forks Riverside Park Dam | Grand Forks | 1925 | 101 yrs | 19 | Low | Not Rated |
| 22 | Fargo 4th Street South Dam | Cass | 1929 | 97 yrs | 10 | Low | Not Rated |
| 23 | Lords Lake Dam | Bottineau | 1930 | 96 yrs | 7 | Low | Poor |
| 24 | Thompson Dam; Robert | Bowman | 1930 | 96 yrs | 14 | Low | Not Rated |
| 25 | Ringwall Dam; Chester | Burke | 1930 | 96 yrs | 8 | Low | Not Rated |
| 26 | Rosefield Slough Dam | Eddy | 1930 | 96 yrs | 7 | Low | Not Rated |
| 27 | Appert Lake Dam | Emmons | 1930 | 96 yrs | 10 | Low | Poor |
| 28 | Karey Dam | Hettinger | 1930 | 96 yrs | 8 | Low | Not Rated |
| 29 | Kilzer Dam; Edmund | Hettinger | 1930 | 96 yrs | 19 | Low | Not Rated |
| 30 | G19 Dam | Kidder | 1930 | 96 yrs | 9 | Low | Fair |
| 31 | Lost Lake Wpa 2 | McLean | 1930 | 96 yrs | 10 | Low | Not Rated |
| 32 | Lake Susie Dam | McLean | 1930 | 96 yrs | 15 | Low | Fair |
| 33 | Lambs Lake Dam | Nelson | 1930 | 96 yrs | 10 | Low | Satisfactory |
| 34 | Buffalo Lake Dam | Pierce | 1930 | 96 yrs | 12 | Low | Poor |
| 35 | 164-073-25s | Rolette | 1930 | 96 yrs | 30 | Low | Not Rated |
| 36 | Willow Lake Dam | Rolette | 1930 | 96 yrs | 16 | Low | Not Rated |
| 37 | Belcourt Lake | Rolette | 1930 | 96 yrs | 13 | High | Poor |
| 38 | Storm Lake Dam | Sargent | 1930 | 96 yrs | 13 | Low | Not Rated |
| 39 | Si's Dam; West | Sioux | 1930 | 96 yrs | 21 | Low | Not Rated |
| 40 | Manns Dam | Stark | 1930 | 96 yrs | 12 | Low | Not Rated |
| 41 | Lefor Dam; Kenneth 2 | Stark | 1930 | 96 yrs | 13 | Low | Not Rated |
| 42 | Snyder Lake Dam | Towner | 1930 | 96 yrs | 10 | Low | Poor |
| 43 | Solberg Dam; Dorvan | Williams | 1930 | 96 yrs | 10 | Low | Not Rated |
| 44 | Arrowwood Dam | Stutsman | 1931 | 95 yrs | 7 | Low | Not Rated |
| 45 | Dakota Lake Dam | Dickey | 1932 | 94 yrs | 10 | Low | Not Rated |
| 46 | Beach Dam | Golden Valley | 1932 | 94 yrs | 17 | High | Poor |
| 47 | Hutton Wpa | Bottineau | 1933 | 93 yrs | 13 | Low | Not Rated |
| 48 | Fargo 12th Avenue North Dam | Cass | 1933 | 93 yrs | 8 | Low | Not Rated |
| 49 | Fargo 32nd Avenue South Dam | Cass | 1933 | 93 yrs | 10 | Low | Not Rated |
| 50 | Warwick Dam | Eddy | 1933 | 93 yrs | 11 | Low | Not Rated |