Shadehill Dam
Shadehill Dam is an earth dam located in Perkins County, South Dakota, built in 1951. It carries a High hazard potential classification.
About Shadehill Dam
The primary purpose of Shadehill Dam 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 Bureau Of Reclamation (federal). It impounds the Grand River near Shadehill.
The dam stands 145 feet tall and stretches 12,843 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 9,900 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 468,585 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 2,990 square miles. Completed in 1951, 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 05/27/2021.
At 145 feet, this dam is taller than 99% of all dams in the United States.
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 | Perkins |
| Nearest City | Shadehill |
| River/Stream | Grand River |
| Coordinates | 45.75250, -102.20110 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 145 ft |
| Dam Height | 145 ft |
| Dam Length | 12,843 ft |
| Year Completed | 1951 (75 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 468,585 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 468,585 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 139,674 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 9,900 acres |
| Drainage Area | 2,990 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 5,700 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | BUREAU OF RECLAMATION |
| Owner Type | Federal |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Not Available |
| Last Inspection | 05/27/2021 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | SD01141 |
| Federal ID | SD01141 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |