Bruning No.1
Bruning No.1 is an earth dam located in Mellette County, South Dakota, built in 1934. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
About Bruning No.1
The primary purpose of Bruning No.1 is water supply. The dam stores water for municipal, industrial, or agricultural use, helping ensure a reliable supply for the surrounding area. The dam is owned by S&pl (state). It impounds the Tr-white Thunder Creek.
The dam stands 34 feet tall and stretches 760 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 30 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 350 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 4 square miles. Completed in 1934, the structure is well-established, with more than 75 years of service.
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 fair — the dam has minor deficiencies that are being addressed or do not pose an immediate safety threat. Notably, no emergency action plan is currently on file for this high-hazard dam. The most recent inspection on record was 09/27/2023.
At 34 feet, this dam is taller than 80% of dams nationwide.
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 | Mellette |
| Nearest City | None |
| River/Stream | Tr-white Thunder Creek |
| Coordinates | 43.50965, -100.54383 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 34 ft |
| Dam Height | 34 ft |
| Dam Length | 760 ft |
| Year Completed | 1934 (92 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 350 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 350 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 215 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 30 acres |
| Drainage Area | 4 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 998 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Water Supply |
| Owner | S&PL |
| Owner Type | State |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 09/27/2023 |
| Emergency Action Plan | No |
Identifiers
| NID ID | SD01418 |
| Federal ID | SD01418 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |