Cresbard Dam
Cresbard Dam is an earth dam located in Faulk County, South Dakota, built in 1936. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
About Cresbard Dam
The primary purpose of Cresbard Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by S&pl (state). It impounds the Tr-snake near Cresbard.
The dam stands 22 feet tall and stretches 760 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 69 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 904 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 58 square miles. Completed in 1936, the structure is well-established, with more than 75 years of service.
This dam carries a high hazard potential classification, which means that a failure or uncontrolled release of water would likely cause loss of human life. This classification reflects the consequences of failure, not the likelihood — it indicates that people live or work in the area downstream. Its condition is rated poor, meaning the dam has recognized safety deficiencies that require remediation to address risks. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 08/28/2022.
Living Downstream
If you live or work downstream of this dam, consider taking these steps: learn your local evacuation routes, check whether your county emergency management office has a dam failure inundation map, and sign up for local emergency alerts. The South Dakota dam safety program can provide more specific information about emergency planning for this structure.
Search for dams near your address to see all dams in your area with hazard classifications and safety data.
Location
| State | South Dakota |
| County | Faulk |
| Nearest City | Cresbard |
| River/Stream | Tr-snake |
| Coordinates | 45.17290, -99.00169 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 22 ft |
| Dam Height | 22 ft |
| Dam Length | 760 ft |
| Year Completed | 1936 (90 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 904 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 904 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 300 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 69 acres |
| Drainage Area | 58 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 7,650 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | S&PL |
| Owner Type | State |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 08/28/2022 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | SD00661 |
| Federal ID | SD00661 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |