Lakota
Lakota is an earth dam located in Custer County, South Dakota, built in 1962. It carries a High hazard potential classification.
About Lakota
The primary purpose of Lakota is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Usda Fs (federal). It impounds the Iron Creek near Hayward.
The dam stands 47 feet tall and stretches 410 feet across, and has a maximum storage capacity of 705 acre-feet. Completed in 1962, 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. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 09/27/2019.
At 47 feet, this dam is taller than 92% 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 | Custer |
| Nearest City | Hayward |
| River/Stream | Iron Creek |
| Coordinates | 43.85101, -103.39612 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 47 ft |
| Dam Height | 42 ft |
| Dam Length | 410 ft |
| Year Completed | 1962 (64 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 705 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 705 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 229 acre-ft |
| Max Discharge | 2,610 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | USDA FS |
| Owner Type | Federal |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Not Rated |
| Last Inspection | 09/27/2019 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | SD01136 |
| Federal ID | SD01136 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |