Smith Ranch Dam is an earth dam located in Haakon County, South Dakota, built in 1953. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification.
Dam profile
NID height · 19 ft19 ft tall and 1,340 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 Smith Ranch Dam
The primary purpose of Smith Ranch Dam 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 R & G Smith Ranch LLC (private). It impounds the South Fork Bad River-tr near Philip.
The dam stands 19 feet tall and stretches 1,340 feet across, and has a maximum storage capacity of 106 acre-feet. Completed in 1953, the structure is well into its service life at over 50 years old.
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 | Haakon |
| Nearest City | Philip |
| River/Stream | South Fork Bad River-tr |
| Coordinates | 44.03248, -101.82001 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 19 ft |
| Dam Height | 19 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,340 ft |
| Year Completed | 1953 (73 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 106 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 106 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 38 acre-ft |
| Max Discharge | 5,250 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Fire Protection, Stock, Or Small Fish Pond |
| Owner | R & G Smith Ranch LLC |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Not assessed |
| Emergency Action Plan | Not Required |
Identifiers
| NID ID | SD00808 |
| Federal ID | SD00808 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |