Jensen Dam

Jensen Dam is an earth dam located in Hughes County, South Dakota, built in 1981. It carries a Low hazard potential classification.

About Jensen Dam

The primary purpose of Jensen Dam is grade stabilization. Grade stabilization dams prevent erosion by reducing the slope and velocity of water flowing through a channel. They're commonly used to stop gullies from deepening and to protect downstream land and infrastructure. The dam is owned by Melvin Jensen (private). It impounds the Dry Draw.

The dam stands 33 feet tall and stretches 240 feet across, has a maximum storage capacity of 27 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 0 square miles. Completed in 1981, the structure is 45 years old.

This dam has a low hazard potential classification, meaning that failure would cause minimal damage, limited primarily to the dam owner's property, with no expected loss of life.

At 33 feet, this dam is taller than 78% of dams nationwide.

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Low Hazard ConditionEmergency Action Plan: Not Required

Location

StateSouth Dakota
CountyHughes
River/StreamDry Draw
Coordinates44.37277, -100.24970

Physical Characteristics

Dam TypeEarth
NID Height33 ft
Dam Height33 ft
Dam Length240 ft
Year Completed1981 (45 years old)

Storage & Hydraulics

NID Storage27 acre-ft
Max Storage27 acre-ft
Normal Storage15 acre-ft
Drainage Area0 sq mi
Max Discharge793 cfs
Spillway TypeUncontrolled

Ownership & Safety

PurposeGrade Stabilization
OwnerMELVIN JENSEN
Owner TypePrivate
Hazard ClassificationLow
Emergency Action PlanNot Required

Identifiers

NID IDSD02472
Federal IDSD02472
More InfoState Dam Safety Program

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