Knippling Stockwater No.3 is an earth dam located in Buffalo County, South Dakota, built in 1958. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification.
Dam profile
NID height · 25 ft25 ft tall and 455 ft long, taller than 50% of U.S. dams with a recorded height. 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 Knippling Stockwater No.3
The primary purpose of Knippling Stockwater No.3 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 Jerry Knippling & Sons Inc (private). It impounds the Elm Creek-tr.
The dam stands 25 feet tall and stretches 455 feet across, and has a maximum storage capacity of 20 acre-feet. Completed in 1958, 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 | Buffalo |
| Nearest City | None |
| River/Stream | Elm Creek-tr |
| Coordinates | 44.11802, -99.21061 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 25 ft |
| Dam Height | 25 ft |
| Dam Length | 455 ft |
| Year Completed | 1958 (68 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 20 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 20 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 14 acre-ft |
| Max Discharge | 200 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Fire Protection, Stock, Or Small Fish Pond |
| Owner | Jerry Knippling & Sons Inc |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Not assessed |
| Emergency Action Plan | Not Required |
Identifiers
| NID ID | SD01357 |
| Federal ID | SD01357 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |