Amsden is an earth dam located in Day County, South Dakota, built in 1937. It carries a Low hazard potential classification.
Dam profile
NID height · 35 ft35 ft tall and 690 ft long, taller than 80% 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 Amsden
The primary purpose of Amsden 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 James River Tr near Ferney.
The dam stands 35 feet tall and stretches 690 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 230 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 4,815 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 56 square miles. Completed in 1937, the structure is well-established, with more than 75 years of service.
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 11/05/2019.
At 35 feet, this dam is taller than 80% of dams nationwide.
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Location
| State | South Dakota |
| County | Day |
| Nearest City | Ferney |
| River/Stream | James River Tr |
| Coordinates | 45.35312, -97.97663 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 35 ft |
| Dam Height | 35 ft |
| Dam Length | 690 ft |
| Year Completed | 1937 (89 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 4,815 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 4,815 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 2,740 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 230 acres |
| Drainage Area | 56 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 7,000 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Gf&p |
| Owner Type | State |
| Hazard Classification | Low |
| Condition Assessment | Not assessed |
| Last Inspection | 11/05/2019 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Not Required |
Identifiers
| NID ID | SD00326 |
| Federal ID | SD00326 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |