Renwick Dam facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Renwick Dam |
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Renwick Dam in Icelandic State Park
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 Renwick Dam
Location in North Dakota
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| Location | Pembina County, North Dakota, United States |
| Coordinates | 48°46′37″N 97°44′51″W / 48.7770146°N 97.7476026°W |
| Type | Reservoir |
| Primary inflows | Tongue River |
| Primary outflows | Tongue River |
| Basin countries | United States |
| Max. length | 1.5 miles (2.4 km) |
| Max. width | 1,340 feet (410 m) |
| Surface area | 180.5 acres (73.0 ha) |
| Average depth | 7.2 feet (2.2 m) |
| Max. depth | 17.7 feet (5.4 m) |
| Water volume | 1,300.1 acre⋅ft (1,603,600 m3) |
| Shore length1 | 5 miles (8.0 km) |
| Surface elevation | 971 ft (296 m) |
| 1 Shore length is not a well-defined measure. | |
The Renwick Dam (National ID # ND00054) is a dam located in Akra Township, Pembina County, North Dakota, USA. This area is in the northeastern part of the state.
The dam is made of earth and was finished in 1962. It stands about 49 feet (15 m) tall and is 1,400 feet (430 m) long at its top. The dam holds back the Tongue River. This helps control floods and creates a place for fun activities. The Pembina County Water Resource District owns and manages both the dam and the lake it creates.
The lake formed by the dam is called Lake Renwick. It covers about 204 acres (83 ha) of water. People enjoy fishing and visiting the nearby Icelandic State Park. This park was created to help protect the history of Icelandic people in North Dakota. A public golf course, the Cavalier Country Club, is also next to the lake's southeast side.
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Understanding Renwick Dam and Lake Renwick
What is Renwick Dam used for?
Renwick Dam has two main purposes. First, it helps with flood control. By holding back river water, it protects towns downstream from flooding during heavy rains. Second, it provides a place for recreation. Lake Renwick is a popular spot for fishing and other outdoor activities.
How big is Lake Renwick?
Lake Renwick is a good-sized lake. It has a water surface area of about 204 acres (83 ha). At its deepest point, the lake is about 17.7 feet (5.4 m) deep. The lake can hold a lot of water, which is important for both flood control and recreation.
Fun things to do at Lake Renwick
Lake Renwick and the surrounding area offer many fun things to do. Fishing is a very popular activity on the lake. You can also visit Icelandic State Park, which is right next to the lake. This park is a great place to learn about the history of Icelandic settlers in North Dakota. If you like golf, there's a golf course nearby too.
The 2013 Flood Event
What caused the 2013 flood near Renwick Dam?
In May 2013, a very big rainstorm hit southwest Pembina County. Between 5 and 10 inches of rain fell in just a few days. This huge amount of rain caused streams and rivers, including the Tongue River, to overflow their banks.
How did the flood affect Renwick Dam?
Because of the heavy rain, the water level behind Renwick Dam rose very quickly. On May 21, the water rose almost 6 inches every hour. This rapid rise made people worried about the dam's safety. The city of Cavalier, which is about six miles east of the dam, had to be evacuated.
How was the dam protected during the flood?
To prevent a disaster, local construction companies quickly built an emergency levee. This levee was 8 feet high and 300 feet wide. It was built on top of the dam's existing emergency spillway. The goal was to stop the dam from failing, which could have flooded towns like Akra, Cavalier, and Bathgate downstream.
