Canyon Lake Dam
Canyon Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Pennington County, South Dakota, built in 1976. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
About Canyon Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Canyon Lake Dam is irrigation. The dam stores and diverts water for agricultural irrigation, supporting farming operations in the surrounding area. The dam is owned by City Of Rapid City (local government). It impounds the Rapid Creek near Rapid City.
The dam stands 31 feet tall and stretches 1,325 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 29 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 610 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 66 square miles. Completed in 1976, the structure is 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. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 04/09/2023.
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 | Rapid Creek |
| Coordinates | 44.05821, -103.28846 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 31 ft |
| Dam Height | 23 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,325 ft |
| Year Completed | 1976 (50 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 610 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 610 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 140 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 29 acres |
| Drainage Area | 66 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 50,000 cfs |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Irrigation |
| Owner | CITY OF RAPID CITY |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 04/09/2023 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | SD02137 |
| Federal ID | SD02137 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |