Columbia Road Dam
Columbia Road Dam is an earth dam located in Brown County, South Dakota, built in 1939. It carries a Low hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
About Columbia Road Dam
The primary purpose of Columbia Road Dam is fish and wildlife pond. The dam creates habitat for fish and wildlife, supporting local ecosystems and potentially serving conservation goals. The dam is owned by Us Fish And Wildlife Service (federal). It impounds the James River.
The dam stands 11 feet tall and stretches 3,100 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 6,050 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 41,933 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 4,140 square miles. Completed in 1939, the structure is well-established, with more than 75 years of service.
This dam has a low hazard potential classification, meaning that failure would cause minimal damage, limited primarily to the dam owner's property, with no expected loss of life. Its condition is rated fair — the dam has minor deficiencies that are being addressed or do not pose an immediate safety threat. The most recent inspection on record was 10/20/2020.
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Location
| State | South Dakota |
| County | Brown |
| River/Stream | James River |
| Coordinates | 45.66806, -98.30556 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 11 ft |
| Dam Height | 10 ft |
| Dam Length | 3,100 ft |
| Year Completed | 1939 (87 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 41,933 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 41,933 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 18,410 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 6,050 acres |
| Drainage Area | 4,140 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 3,510 cfs |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Fish and Wildlife Pond |
| Owner | US FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE |
| Owner Type | Federal |
| Hazard Classification | Low |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 10/20/2020 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Not Required |
Identifiers
| NID ID | SD01192 |
| Federal ID | SD01192 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |