Vivian Dam is an earth dam located in Lyman County, South Dakota, built in 1938. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification.
Dam profile
NID height · 21 ft21 ft tall and 690 ft long. 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 Vivian Dam
The primary purpose of Vivian Dam 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 S&pl (state). It impounds the Medicine Creek near Vivian.
The dam stands 21 feet tall and stretches 690 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 30 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 190 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 3 square miles. Completed in 1938, 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 09/27/2023.
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Location
| State | South Dakota |
| County | Lyman |
| Nearest City | Vivian |
| River/Stream | Medicine Creek |
| Coordinates | 43.90818, -100.27942 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 21 ft |
| Dam Height | 21 ft |
| Dam Length | 690 ft |
| Year Completed | 1938 (88 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 190 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 190 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 90 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 30 acres |
| Drainage Area | 3 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 2,000 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Fire Protection, Stock, Or Small Fish Pond |
| Owner | S&pl |
| Owner Type | State |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Not assessed |
| Last Inspection | 09/27/2023 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Not Required |
Identifiers
| NID ID | SD02173 |
| Federal ID | SD02173 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |