Marindahl
Marindahl is an earth dam located in Yankton County, South Dakota, built in 1953. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
About Marindahl
The primary purpose of Marindahl is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Gf&p (state). It impounds the Clay Creek.
The dam stands 58 feet tall and stretches 640 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 105 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 3,060 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 72 square miles. Completed in 1953, 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. 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 11/20/2025.
At 58 feet, this dam is taller than 95% 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 | Yankton |
| Nearest City | None |
| River/Stream | Clay Creek |
| Coordinates | 43.03693, -97.25609 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 58 ft |
| Dam Height | 58 ft |
| Dam Length | 640 ft |
| Year Completed | 1953 (73 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 3,060 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 3,060 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 1,570 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 105 acres |
| Drainage Area | 72 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 12,360 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | GF&P |
| Owner Type | State |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 11/20/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | SD00045 |
| Federal ID | SD00045 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |