List of dams and reservoirs in North Dakota facts for kids

Dams are big walls built across rivers. They hold back water, creating large lakes called reservoirs. These reservoirs are important for many reasons. They can store water for drinking and for farms. They also help prevent floods and can even create electricity. This article lists some important dams and reservoirs in North Dakota.

A "major dam" is usually very tall, about 50 feet (15 meters) high. It can also hold a lot of water, like 5,000 acre-feet (6.2 million cubic meters) or more. That's enough water to cover 5,000 football fields one foot deep!

Important Dams and Reservoirs in North Dakota

Lake Darling Dam

Baldhill Dam

North Dakota has many dams and reservoirs. Here are some of the most important ones:

• Baldhill Dam: This dam creates Lake Ashtabula on the Sheyenne River. It is managed by the United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE). The USACE is a government group that builds and manages many public projects, like dams and waterways.
• Beaver Creek Dam: Located in Steele County, this dam helps control floods. It creates a reservoir that holds water during wet seasons.
• Bowman-Haley Dam: This dam creates the Bowman-Haley Reservoir. It is also managed by the USACE.
• Cottonwood Creek Dam 3: This dam forms Lake LaMoure, which provides water for the city of LaMoure.
• Lake Darling Dam: This dam creates Lake Darling on the Souris River. It is managed by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). The USFWS works to protect wildlife and their habitats.
• Dec Lacs#2: This dam is part of the Des Lacs National Wildlife Refuge Complex. It helps manage water levels for wildlife in the refuge. It is also managed by the USFWS.
• Dickinson Dam: This dam creates Edward Arthur Patterson Lake. It is managed by the United States Bureau of Reclamation (USBR). The USBR focuses on water resources, especially in the western United States.
• Garrison Dam: This is one of the largest dams in North Dakota. It creates Lake Sakakawea, a very large reservoir on the Missouri River. The USACE manages this important dam.
• Heart Butte Dam: This dam creates Lake Tschida and is managed by the USBR.
• Jamestown Dam: This dam creates the Jamestown Reservoir and is managed by the USBR.
• Oahe Dam: While mostly in South Dakota, Lake Oahe, the reservoir it creates, extends into North Dakota. This large dam is managed by the USACE.
• Pipestem Dam: This dam creates Pipestem Lake and is managed by the USACE.
• Renwick Dam: This dam creates Lake Renwick and is managed by the Pembina County Water Resource District.

There are also many smaller dams across North Dakota that help manage water for local areas:

• Drayton Dam in Drayton, located in Drayton County.
• Riverside Dam in Grand Forks, located in Grand Forks County.
• North Dam in Fargo, located in Cass County.
• Midtown Dam in Fargo, located in Cass County.
• South Dam in Fargo, located in Cass County.
• Rock Dam near Hickson, located in Cass County.
• Rock Dam near Christine, located in Richland County.
• Kidder Dam near Wahpeton, located in Richland County.

See also

• List of dam removals in North Dakota