Howard Schmele Dam No.1 is an earth dam located in Butte County, South Dakota, built in 1950. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification.
Dam profile
NID height · 13 ft13 ft tall and 800 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 Howard Schmele Dam No.1
The primary purpose of Howard Schmele Dam No.1 is fire protection, stock, or small fish pond. The dam maintains a small impoundment used for fire suppression, livestock watering, or as a fish pond. The dam is owned by Daniel Long (private). It impounds the Bitty Creek.
The dam stands 13 feet tall and stretches 800 feet across, and has a maximum storage capacity of 369 acre-feet. Completed in 1950, the structure is well-established, with more than 75 years of service.
This dam has a significant hazard potential classification, meaning that a failure could cause significant economic damage — flooding roads, bridges, or property downstream — but is not expected to result in loss of life.
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Location
| State | South Dakota |
| County | Butte |
| Nearest City | None |
| River/Stream | Bitty Creek |
| Coordinates | 44.76132, -103.56823 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 13 ft |
| Dam Height | 13 ft |
| Dam Length | 800 ft |
| Year Completed | 1950 (76 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 369 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 369 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 169 acre-ft |
| Max Discharge | 100 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Fire Protection, Stock, Or Small Fish Pond |
| Owner | Daniel Long |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Not assessed |
| Emergency Action Plan | Not Required |
Identifiers
| NID ID | SD00679 |
| Federal ID | SD00679 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |