Brakke Dam is an earth dam located in Lyman County, South Dakota, built in 1937. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification.
Dam profile
NID height · 29 ft29 ft tall and 600 ft long, taller than 65% 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 Brakke Dam
The primary purpose of Brakke Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Gf&p (state). It impounds the Tr-medicine Creek near Kennebec.
The dam stands 29 feet tall and stretches 600 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 131 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 1,016 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 13 square miles. Completed in 1937, the structure is well-established, with more than 75 years of service.
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. The most recent inspection on record was 07/20/2023.
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Location
| State | South Dakota |
| County | Lyman |
| Nearest City | Kennebec |
| River/Stream | Tr-medicine Creek |
| Coordinates | 43.89538, -99.95597 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 29 ft |
| Dam Height | 29 ft |
| Dam Length | 600 ft |
| Year Completed | 1937 (89 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 1,016 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 1,016 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 1,016 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 131 acres |
| Drainage Area | 13 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 2,540 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Gf&p |
| Owner Type | State |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Not assessed |
| Last Inspection | 07/20/2023 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Not Required |
Identifiers
| NID ID | SD02157 |
| Federal ID | SD02157 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |