Knife River Coal Pond 81

Brush Creek-TR· Mercer, North Dakota· Built 1986· Earth· 25 ft tall
Low Hazard Other Fish And Wildlife Pond Public Utility

Key Takeaway

Knife River Coal Pond 81 is classified as low hazard in North Dakota. It was completed in 1986 and is 40 years old. Its primary use is other.

Physical Details

Dam Height 25 ft (taller than 79.3% in ND)
Dam Length0 ft
Dam TypeEarth
Max Storage43 acre-ft
Normal Storage23 acre-ft
Surface Area3 acres
Drainage Area1 sq mi
Year Completed1986 (40 years old)
NID IDND10068

Safety Information

Low Hazard

No probable loss of human life and low economic/environmental losses expected.

Hazard potential describes downstream consequences of failure, not the dam's current condition. What does this mean?

Emergency Action Plan: No
State Regulated: No

Ownership

Montana Dakota Utility

Public Utility

Nearby Dams

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the hazard classification of Knife River Coal Pond 81?

Knife River Coal Pond 81 is classified as Low Hazard. No probable loss of human life and low economic/environmental losses expected. This classification refers to the potential downstream consequences of a failure, not the dam's current structural condition.

Who owns and operates Knife River Coal Pond 81?

Knife River Coal Pond 81 is owned by Montana Dakota Utility (Public Utility). The owner is responsible for maintenance, inspections, and compliance with dam safety regulations.

When was Knife River Coal Pond 81 built?

Knife River Coal Pond 81 was completed in 1986, making it 40 years old. Many U.S. dams were built between the 1930s and 1970s during a period of major infrastructure investment.

What is the primary purpose of Knife River Coal Pond 81?

Knife River Coal Pond 81 serves the following purposes: Other, Fish And Wildlife Pond. Many dams in the U.S. are multi-purpose, supporting flood control, water supply, recreation, and other uses.

How tall is Knife River Coal Pond 81?

Knife River Coal Pond 81 has a dam height of 25 ft. Dam height is measured from the natural streambed at the downstream toe to the top of the dam, and may differ from the visible height.

Data from the National Inventory of Dams (NID) maintained by the US Army Corps of Engineers. Dam conditions may have changed since the last update. This site is not affiliated with USACE. Do not use for emergency planning — contact your local dam safety program.