Crow Creek is an earth dam located in Buffalo County, South Dakota, built in 1939. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 55 ft55 ft tall and 1,425 ft long, taller than 94% of U.S. dams with a recorded height. Height is drawn to scale against a ten-story building, about 100 ft; the profile is a generic embankment section and the water level is illustrative.
About Crow Creek
The primary purpose of Crow Creek is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Bia (federal). It impounds the Crow Creek.
The dam stands 55 feet tall and stretches 1,425 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 320 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 7,306 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 1,149 square miles. Completed in 1939, 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. Its condition is rated poor, meaning the dam has recognized safety deficiencies that require remediation to address risks.
At 55 feet, this dam is taller than 94% of dams nationwide.
Search for dams near your address to see all dams in your area with hazard classifications and safety data.
Location
| State | South Dakota |
| County | Buffalo |
| Nearest City | None |
| River/Stream | Crow Creek |
| Coordinates | 43.97590, -99.29970 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 55 ft |
| Dam Height | 55 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,425 ft |
| Year Completed | 1939 (87 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 7,306 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 7,306 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 320 acres |
| Drainage Area | 1,149 sq mi |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Bia |
| Owner Type | Federal |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Emergency Action Plan | No |
Identifiers
| NID ID | SD00714 |
| Federal ID | SD00714 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |