Renwick Dam, completed in 1962, is the last of a series of ten dams put in as a flood control project along the Tongue River. The structure no longer meets design and safety requirements and work will begin this year to retrofit it to current specifications.
NDPRD will provide updates on the project status and timeframe. The most current timeline puts the project into two phases.
Phase 1 – October 2010 through the summer of 2011, earth work and traffic detour to start. 2011 through 2012 – finish the restructurings of the added clay and time to allow to compact.
Phase 2 - Spring of 2013 through mid-July 2014, the rolled compacted concrete for the emergency spillway will be poured as well as the new road on the lake side of the rebuilt dam.
Update (09/04/2012): With summer winding down, we want to thank the visitors to Icelandic State Park for their patience during the retrofit of the Renwick Dam.
At times the five-mile detour (3 miles on gravel) has been problematic for vehicles as busy summer traffic takes its toll on the gravel road. The road has had gravel and dust abatement material added and the NDPRD has invested over $16,000 in its up keep, about 8 percent of Icelandic State Park’s biennial operating budget. Nearly 8,000 campers have used the road through August and expectations are visitation will remain busy through the fall.
Work on the Renwick Dam will resume in May of 2013 and the detour will remain in place until it is determined use of the road crossing the dam will not adversely affect construction. The dam is owned by the Pembina County Resource District and NRCS.
Update (05/21/2012): Phase 1 has been completed. After the soil has settled and compacted phase 2 will begin. Phase 2 will be bid out in August 2012. All traffic must use the detour until completion of the project. Hikers can access both sides of the park via the trail system.
Detour to Campground Entrance:
Dam Images:
Winter 2012
For questions regarding this project, please contact the park at 701.265.4561 or email them at ISP (isp@nd.gov).
