Belle Fourche Dam
Belle Fourche Dam is an earth dam located in Butte County, South Dakota, built in 1911. It carries a High hazard potential classification.
About Belle Fourche Dam
The primary purpose of Belle Fourche Dam is irrigation. The dam stores and diverts water for agricultural irrigation, supporting farming operations in the surrounding area. The dam is owned by Bureau Of Reclamation (federal). It impounds the Owl Creek.
The dam stands 122 feet tall and stretches 6,262 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 9,861 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 246,000 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 204 square miles. Completed in 1911, the structure is over a century 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. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 05/25/2021.
At 122 feet, this dam is taller than 98% of all dams in the United States.
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 | Butte |
| Nearest City | None |
| River/Stream | Owl Creek |
| Coordinates | 44.73190, -103.67630 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 122 ft |
| Dam Height | 122 ft |
| Dam Length | 6,262 ft |
| Year Completed | 1911 (115 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 246,000 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 246,000 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 192,077 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 9,861 acres |
| Drainage Area | 204 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 4,500 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Irrigation |
| Owner | BUREAU OF RECLAMATION |
| Owner Type | Federal |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Not Available |
| Last Inspection | 05/25/2021 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | SD01100 |
| Federal ID | SD01100 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |