Fairfax Lake
Fairfax Lake is an earth dam located in Gregory County, South Dakota, built in 1934. It carries a Low hazard potential classification.
About Fairfax Lake
The primary purpose of Fairfax Lake 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 South Scalp Creek-tr.
The dam stands 28 feet tall and stretches 500 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 24 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 468 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 3 square miles. Completed in 1934, 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 | Gregory |
| Nearest City | None |
| River/Stream | South Scalp Creek-tr |
| Coordinates | 43.04960, -98.87872 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 28 ft |
| Dam Height | 28 ft |
| Dam Length | 500 ft |
| Year Completed | 1934 (92 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 468 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 468 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 264 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 24 acres |
| Drainage Area | 3 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 1,428 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | GF&P |
| Owner Type | State |
| Hazard Classification | Low |
| Last Inspection | 10/25/2023 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Not Required |
Identifiers
| NID ID | SD00553 |
| Federal ID | SD00553 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |