Capitol Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Hughes County, South Dakota, built in 1921. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 27 ft27 ft tall and 600 ft long, taller than 59% 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 Capitol Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Capitol Lake Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by S&pl (state). It impounds the Hilgers Gulch near Pierre.
The dam stands 27 feet tall and stretches 600 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 6 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 127 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 6 square miles. Completed in 1921, the structure is over a century old.
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. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 07/27/2022.
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 | Hughes |
| Nearest City | Pierre |
| River/Stream | Hilgers Gulch |
| Coordinates | 44.36462, -100.34375 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 27 ft |
| Dam Height | 27 ft |
| Dam Length | 600 ft |
| Year Completed | 1921 (105 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 127 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 127 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 65 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 6 acres |
| Drainage Area | 6 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 2,200 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | S&pl |
| Owner Type | State |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 07/27/2022 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | SD02209 |
| Federal ID | SD02209 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |