Ulmer Dam is an earth dam located in Hutchinson County, South Dakota, built in 1975. It carries a Low hazard potential classification.
Dam profile
NID height · 31 ft31 ft tall and 310 ft long, taller than 72% 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 Ulmer Dam
The primary purpose of Ulmer Dam is fish and wildlife pond. The dam creates habitat for fish and wildlife, supporting local ecosystems and potentially serving conservation goals. The dam is owned by Merritt Ulmer (private). It impounds the Trib. James River.
The dam stands 31 feet tall and stretches 310 feet across, has a maximum storage capacity of 108 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 2 square miles. Completed in 1975, the structure is well into its service life at over 50 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.
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Location
| State | South Dakota |
| County | Hutchinson |
| Nearest City | None |
| River/Stream | Trib. James River |
| Coordinates | 43.17205, -97.59039 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 31 ft |
| Dam Height | 31 ft |
| Dam Length | 310 ft |
| Year Completed | 1975 (51 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 108 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 108 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 100 acre-ft |
| Drainage Area | 2 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 3,793 cfs |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Fish and Wildlife Pond |
| Owner | Merritt Ulmer |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | Low |
| Condition Assessment | Not assessed |
| Emergency Action Plan | Not Required |
Identifiers
| NID ID | SD02321 |
| Federal ID | SD02321 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |