Jensen Dam is an earth dam located in Hughes County, South Dakota, built in 1981. It carries a Low hazard potential classification.
Dam profile
NID height · 33 ft33 ft tall and 240 ft long, taller than 76% 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 Jensen Dam
The primary purpose of Jensen Dam is grade stabilization. Grade stabilization dams prevent erosion by reducing the slope and velocity of water flowing through a channel. They're commonly used to stop gullies from deepening and to protect downstream land and infrastructure. The dam is owned by Melvin Jensen (private). It impounds the Dry Draw.
The dam stands 33 feet tall and stretches 240 feet across, has a maximum storage capacity of 27 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 0 square miles. Completed in 1981, the structure is 45 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.
At 33 feet, this dam is taller than 76% of dams nationwide.
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Location
| State | South Dakota |
| County | Hughes |
| River/Stream | Dry Draw |
| Coordinates | 44.37277, -100.24970 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 33 ft |
| Dam Height | 33 ft |
| Dam Length | 240 ft |
| Year Completed | 1981 (45 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 27 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 27 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 15 acre-ft |
| Drainage Area | 0 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 793 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Grade Stabilization |
| Owner | Melvin Jensen |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | Low |
| Condition Assessment | Not assessed |
| Emergency Action Plan | Not Required |
Identifiers
| NID ID | SD02472 |
| Federal ID | SD02472 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |