Alvin dam
Alvin
Alvin, located in Lincoln, South Dakota, is a state-owned earth dam completed in 1954 with a primary purpose of regulating Nine Mile Creek. The dam stands at 36 feet tall with a hydraulic height of 28 feet and a length of 600 feet, providing a storage capacity of 2150 acre-feet. Despite its low hazard potential and moderate risk assessment, Alvin is equipped with an uncontrolled spillway measuring 60 feet wide, ensuring the safety of the surrounding area during times of high discharge.
Managed by the South Dakota Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Alvin undergoes regular inspections every three years, with the last assessment conducted in October 2016. While the dam's condition remains unrated, its emergency action plan status, risk management measures, and adherence to regulatory guidelines are currently undisclosed. With Dusty Johnson (R) serving as the representative of the area in the U.S. House of Representatives, Alvin's critical role in water resource management in Canton is overseen by state authorities to ensure its continued operation and safety for the community.
Water resource and climate enthusiasts will be fascinated by Alvin's unique design by Benson & Schmitz, its robust construction using soil foundations and buttress core types, and its vital role in regulating water flow in the region. As a key infrastructure in the St. Paul District managed by the state of South Dakota, Alvin serves as a testament to effective dam management practices and the importance of maintaining and inspecting such structures to mitigate potential risks. With its moderate risk assessment and low hazard potential, Alvin stands as a crucial component of the water resource system in Lincoln, South Dakota, contributing to the overall environmental sustainability and resilience of the area.
Dam data reference
Condition Assessment
- Satisfactory
- No existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. Acceptable performance is expected under all loading conditions (static, hydrologic, seismic) in accordance with the minimum applicable state or federal regulatory criteria or tolerable risk guidelines.
- Fair
- No existing dam safety deficiencies are recognized for normal operating conditions. Rare or extreme hydrologic and/or seismic events may result in a dam safety deficiency. Risk may be in the range to take further action.
- Poor
- A dam safety deficiency is recognized for normal operating conditions which may realistically occur. Remedial action is necessary. POOR may also be used when uncertainties exist as to critical analysis parameters which identify a potential dam safety deficiency.
- Unsatisfactory
- A dam safety deficiency is recognized that requires immediate or emergency remedial action for problem resolution.
- Not Rated
- The dam has not been inspected, is not under state or federal jurisdiction, or has been inspected but, for whatever reason, has not been rated.
Hazard Potential Classification
- High
- Dams assigned the high hazard potential classification are those where failure or mis-operation will probably cause loss of human life.
- Significant
- Dams assigned the significant hazard potential classification are those dams where failure or mis-operation results in no probable loss of human life but can cause economic loss, environmental damage, disruption of lifeline facilities, or impact other concerns. Significant hazard potential classification dams are often located in predominantly rural or agricultural areas but could be in areas with population and significant infrastructure.
- Low
- Dams assigned the low hazard potential classification are those where failure or mis-operation results in no probable loss of human life and low economic and/or environmental losses. Losses are principally limited to the owner's property.
- Undetermined
- Dams for which a downstream hazard potential has not been designated or is not provided.
Plan around the weather
Same NOAA / yr.no feed Snoflo's iOS app uses. Watch the precipitation column on the meteogram -- rain on the basin upstream typically lifts inflow 24-72 hours later.
Next 5 days, hour by hour
Temperature line with weather symbols on top, snow + rain accumulation as columns, humidity as a dotted line.
5-day forecast table
Every 3 hours, broken out across temperature, snow, rain, humidity, and wind. Each cell is colour-coded relative to the column min/max.
| Time | Condition | Temp (°F) | Snow (in) | Rain (in) | Humidity (%) | Wind (mps) | Wind dir |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loading detailed forecast… | |||||||
15-day temperature & precipitation
Daily temperatures, snow, and rain projected over the next two weeks.
Nearby streamflow gauges
USGS streamgauges around Alvin -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Big Sioux R At Sioux Falls Sd | 154 cfs | → |
| Big Sioux R At North Cliff Ave At Sioux Falls Sd | 668 cfs | → |
| Skunk Cr At Sioux Falls Sd | 13 cfs | → |
| Split Rock Cr At Corson Sd | 18 cfs | → |
| Rock River Near Rock Valley | 663 cfs | → |
| Rock River Below Tom Creek At Rock Rapids | 126 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Alvin.
Boat launches
- Copperwood Court Lincoln County
- Wall Lake Boat Ramp
- Split Rock Park Road Garretson
- 310th Street Sioux County
- Mccook County
Campgrounds
- West Ball Park Campground
- Camp Jellystone
- Foote City Park
- Westside City Park
- Island Parck
- Oak Grove County Park - Turkey Ridge
More reservoirs
Track Alvin in the Snoflo app
Save this dam as a favorite and get the local NOAA / yr.no forecast plus regional flow context wherever you are.
About Alvin
Where does the data for Alvin come from?
Structural and regulatory data come from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' National Inventory of Dams (NID). Weather forecast comes from NOAA / yr.no -- the same feed Snoflo's iOS app uses.
How often is the report updated?
NID structural data refreshes annually as the Corps publishes updated assessments. The weather forecast refreshes throughout the day.
What does the Low hazard rating mean?
The Corps of Engineers' hazard potential classification grades probable consequences if the dam fails: High = probable loss of human life; Significant = no probable loss of human life but possible economic loss / environmental damage; Low = no probable loss of human life, only minor economic / environmental losses. See the Dam Data Reference card above for the full definitions.
What's "% of normal"?
The current storage value compared to the historical average storage on this calendar day. 100% = right on average; values above 100% mean above-normal storage (wet year); values below mean below-normal (dry year or drought).
Can I get alerts when storage crosses a threshold?
Yes -- alerts are managed in the Snoflo iOS app. Favorite this dam, set a threshold, and you'll get a push the moment conditions cross.
Other water bodies near here
Snoflo-tracked reservoirs and dams within driving distance of Alvin.