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High Risk Dams in South Dakota

South Dakota has 23 high hazard dams with a condition assessment of poor or unsatisfactory. These are dams where failure would probably cause loss of human life and where recognized safety deficiencies have been identified.

Of the 85 high hazard dams in South Dakota, 23 (27%) have concerning condition ratings — 16 rated poor and 7 rated unsatisfactory.

Condition scale, best to worst
  1. Satisfactory No existing or potential safety deficiencies recognized; acceptable performance expected under all loading conditions.
  2. Fair No deficiencies under normal operating conditions; a rare flood or earthquake could create one.
  3. Poor A safety deficiency is recognized under normal operating conditions; remedial action is necessary.
  4. Unsatisfactory Worst rating. The dam is considered unsafe; a deficiency requires immediate or emergency remedial action.

"Not rated" means no assessment is on file in the National Inventory of Dams.

DamCountyHeight (ft)ConditionLast inspectedPurposeYear
OglalaOglala Lakota62Unsatisfactory09/28/20197 yrs agoRecreation1941
MarindahlYankton58Poor11/20/2025this yearRecreation1953
RichmondBrown52Poor08/13/20251 yr agoRecreation1935
Ghost HawkTodd47Unsatisfactory08/31/20215 yrs agoRecreation1975
Rank DamBuffalo40Poor11/02/20223 yrs agoRecreation1935
White ClayOglala Lakota35Unsatisfactory05/03/20233 yrs agoRecreation1936
Lake Corsica DamDouglas32Poor08/15/20224 yrs agoRecreation1939
King Dam No. 1Haakon30Poor09/20/20233 yrs agoFire Protection, Stock, Or Small Fish Pond1960
Redfield LakeSpink30Poor07/01/20251 yr agoRecreation1939
Wolf CreekOglala Lakota27UnsatisfactoryNot reportedIrrigation1965
Clarence Smith DamZiebach25Poor11/01/20187 yrs agoFire Protection, Stock, Or Small Fish Pond1958
AntelopeTodd25Poor08/31/20215 yrs agoRecreation1939
AllenBennett24Unsatisfactory08/25/20206 yrs agoRecreation1961
Cresbard DamFaulk22Poor08/28/20224 yrs agoRecreation1936
Mark Fisher DamPerkins21Poor11/09/20214 yrs agoFire Protection, Stock, Or Small Fish Pond1957
Bud Young Section 3Ziebach21Poor11/01/20187 yrs agoFire Protection, Stock, Or Small Fish Pond1957
AmbroseHyde21Poor08/04/20206 yrs agoRecreation1935
Corn CreekMellette20Unsatisfactory06/23/20233 yrs agoIrrigation
Bednar DamZiebach19Poor11/10/20223 yrs agoRecreation1933
King Dam No. 2Haakon18Poor09/20/20233 yrs agoFire Protection, Stock, Or Small Fish Pond1954
C. VansickelMeade17Poor11/09/20214 yrs agoFire Protection, Stock, Or Small Fish Pond1936
Kjerstad Dam No. 2Pennington14Poor12/19/20232 yrs agoFire Protection, Stock, Or Small Fish Pond1941
Custer WestCuster13Unsatisfactory12/09/20232 yrs agoRecreation1943

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