Red Dale Gulch
Red Dale Gulch is an earth dam located in Pennington County, South Dakota, built in 1959. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
About Red Dale Gulch
The primary purpose of Red Dale Gulch is flood risk reduction. The dam is designed to control downstream flooding by temporarily storing excess water during storms and releasing it at a controlled rate. The dam is owned by City Of Rapid City (local government). It impounds the Dead Man Gulch near Rapid City.
The dam stands 42 feet tall and stretches 1,320 feet across, and has a maximum storage capacity of 155 acre-feet. Completed in 1959, the structure is well into its service life at over 50 years old.
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 fair — the dam has minor deficiencies that are being addressed or do not pose an immediate safety threat. The most recent inspection on record was 08/29/2024.
At 42 feet, this dam is taller than 89% of dams nationwide.
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 | Pennington |
| Nearest City | Rapid City |
| River/Stream | Dead Man Gulch |
| Coordinates | 44.06863, -103.29666 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 42 ft |
| Dam Height | 42 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,320 ft |
| Year Completed | 1959 (67 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 155 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 155 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 110 acre-ft |
| Max Discharge | 17,500 cfs |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | City of Rapid City |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 08/29/2024 |
Identifiers
| NID ID | SD01098 |
| Federal ID | SD01098 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |