King Dam No. 2
King Dam No. 2 is an earth dam located in Haakon County, South Dakota, built in 1954. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
About King Dam No. 2
The primary purpose of King Dam No. 2 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 Richard King (private). It impounds the West Plum Creek-tr.
The dam stands 18 feet tall and stretches 1,160 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 25 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 218 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 2 square miles. Completed in 1954, the structure is well into its service life at over 50 years old.
This dam carries a high hazard potential classification, which means that a failure or uncontrolled release of water would likely cause loss of human life. This classification reflects the consequences of failure, not the likelihood — it indicates that people live or work in the area downstream. Its condition is rated poor, meaning the dam has recognized safety deficiencies that require remediation to address risks. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 09/20/2023.
Living Downstream
If you live or work downstream of this dam, consider taking these steps: learn your local evacuation routes, check whether your county emergency management office has a dam failure inundation map, and sign up for local emergency alerts. The South Dakota dam safety program can provide more specific information about emergency planning for this structure.
Search for dams near your address to see all dams in your area with hazard classifications and safety data.
Location
| State | South Dakota |
| County | Haakon |
| Nearest City | None |
| River/Stream | West Plum Creek-tr |
| Coordinates | 44.31027, -101.66612 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 18 ft |
| Dam Height | 18 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,160 ft |
| Year Completed | 1954 (72 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 218 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 218 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 133 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 25 acres |
| Drainage Area | 2 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 943 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Fire Protection, Stock, Or Small Fish Pond |
| Owner | RICHARD KING |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 09/20/2023 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | SD00860 |
| Federal ID | SD00860 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |