Newell is an earth dam located in Butte County, South Dakota, built in 1958. It carries a Low hazard potential classification.
Dam profile
NID height · 38 ft38 ft tall and 1,500 ft long, taller than 84% of U.S. dams with a recorded height. Height is drawn to scale against a two-story house, about 25 ft; the profile is a generic embankment section and the water level is illustrative.
About Newell
The primary purpose of Newell 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 Gf&p (state). It impounds the Willow Creek.
The dam stands 38 feet tall and stretches 1,500 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 186 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 2,550 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 13 square miles. Completed in 1958, the structure is well into its service life at over 50 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. The most recent inspection on record was 10/16/2024.
At 38 feet, this dam is taller than 84% of dams nationwide.
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Location
| State | South Dakota |
| County | Butte |
| Nearest City | None |
| River/Stream | Willow Creek |
| Coordinates | 44.83540, -103.38644 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 38 ft |
| Dam Height | 38 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,500 ft |
| Year Completed | 1958 (68 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 2,550 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 2,550 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 1,600 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 186 acres |
| Drainage Area | 13 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 3,470 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | Gf&p |
| Owner Type | State |
| Hazard Classification | Low |
| Condition Assessment | Not assessed |
| Last Inspection | 10/16/2024 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Not Required |
Identifiers
| NID ID | SD00011 |
| Federal ID | SD00011 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |