He Dog
He Dog is an earth dam located in Todd County, South Dakota, built in 1936. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About He Dog
The primary purpose of He Dog is irrigation. The dam stores and diverts water for agricultural irrigation, supporting farming operations in the surrounding area. The dam is owned by Bia (federal). It impounds the Cut Meat Creek near Parmelee.
The dam stands 41 feet tall and stretches 1,800 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 78 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 2,589 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 35 square miles. Completed in 1936, 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 satisfactory, indicating no existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 08/26/2020.
At 41 feet, this dam is taller than 88% 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 | Todd |
| Nearest City | Parmelee |
| River/Stream | Cut Meat Creek |
| Coordinates | 43.28989, -101.05900 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 41 ft |
| Dam Height | 41 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,800 ft |
| Year Completed | 1936 (90 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 2,589 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 2,589 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 550 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 78 acres |
| Drainage Area | 35 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 46,940 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Irrigation |
| Owner | BIA |
| Owner Type | Federal |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 08/26/2020 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | SD02144 |
| Federal ID | SD02144 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |