Mclaughlin Dam is an earth dam located in Tripp County, South Dakota, built in 1935. It carries a Low hazard potential classification.
Dam profile
NID height · 18 ft18 ft tall and 16 ft long. 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 Mclaughlin Dam
The primary purpose of Mclaughlin Dam 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 Thunder Creek-tr.
The dam stands 18 feet tall and stretches 16 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 23 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 283 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 3 square miles. Completed in 1935, 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 10/25/2023.
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Location
| State | South Dakota |
| County | Tripp |
| Nearest City | None |
| River/Stream | Thunder Creek-tr |
| Coordinates | 43.34734, -99.77877 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 18 ft |
| Dam Height | 16 ft |
| Dam Length | 16 ft |
| Year Completed | 1935 (91 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 283 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 283 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 129 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 23 acres |
| Drainage Area | 3 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 1,900 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Gf&p |
| Owner Type | State |
| Hazard Classification | Low |
| Condition Assessment | Not assessed |
| Last Inspection | 10/25/2023 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Not Required |
Identifiers
| NID ID | SD00542 |
| Federal ID | SD00542 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |