Benson Dam is an earth dam located in Tripp County, South Dakota, built in 1977. It carries a Low hazard potential classification.
Dam profile
NID height · 35 ft35 ft tall and 700 ft long, taller than 80% 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 Benson Dam
The primary purpose of Benson 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 Robert & Judy Benson (private). It impounds the Willow Creek.
The dam stands 35 feet tall and stretches 700 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 116 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 2,900 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 78 square miles. Completed in 1977, the structure is 49 years old.
This dam has a low hazard potential classification, meaning that failure would cause minimal damage, limited primarily to the dam owner's property, with no expected loss of life. The most recent inspection on record was 11/01/1983. That was over 42 years ago.
At 35 feet, this dam is taller than 80% of dams nationwide.
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Location
| State | South Dakota |
| County | Tripp |
| Nearest City | None |
| River/Stream | Willow Creek |
| Coordinates | 43.12166, -99.99166 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 35 ft |
| Dam Height | 35 ft |
| Dam Length | 700 ft |
| Year Completed | 1977 (49 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 2,900 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 2,900 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 1,450 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 116 acres |
| Drainage Area | 78 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 6,000 cfs |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Fire Protection, Stock, Or Small Fish Pond |
| Owner | Robert & Judy Benson |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | Low |
| Condition Assessment | Not assessed |
| Last Inspection | 11/01/1983 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Not Required |
Identifiers
| NID ID | SD02242 |
| Federal ID | SD02242 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |