Richmond
Richmond is an earth dam located in Brown County, South Dakota, built in 1935. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
About Richmond
The primary purpose of Richmond is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by S&pl (state). It impounds the Foot Creek near Aberdeen.
The dam stands 52 feet tall and stretches 1,550 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 824 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 19,800 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 159 square miles. Completed in 1935, the structure is well-established, with more than 75 years of service.
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 poor, meaning the dam has recognized safety deficiencies that require remediation to address risks. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 08/13/2025.
At 52 feet, this dam is taller than 93% 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 | Brown |
| Nearest City | Aberdeen |
| River/Stream | Foot Creek |
| Coordinates | 45.53335, -98.59157 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 52 ft |
| Dam Height | 52 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,550 ft |
| Year Completed | 1935 (91 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 19,800 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 19,800 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 11,500 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 824 acres |
| Drainage Area | 159 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 5,620 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | S&PL |
| Owner Type | State |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 08/13/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | SD00006 |
| Federal ID | SD00006 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |