Baker Number 2 dam
Baker Number 2
Baker Number 2 is a privately-owned earth dam located in Jones, South Dakota, along the TR-WHITERIVER. It was completed in 1959 and stands at a height of 28 feet, with a length of 348 feet. The dam has a storage capacity of 21 acre-feet and a maximum discharge of 375 cubic feet per second. Despite being categorized as having a low hazard potential, the dam's condition assessment is listed as "Not Rated", indicating a need for further evaluation.
Managed by the Natural Resources Conservation Service, Baker Number 2 is regulated by the South Dakota Department of Environment and Natural Resources, with permitting, inspection, and enforcement protocols in place. The dam's primary purpose and associated structures are not specified, and there is no designated emergency action plan or inundation maps prepared. The dam is not owned or funded by federal agencies, and its risk assessment and management measures are currently unspecified. Despite these gaps in information, Baker Number 2 remains a notable feature in the water resource infrastructure of South Dakota.
As a key component of the water management system in the region, Baker Number 2 plays a crucial role in regulating the flow of the TR-WHITERIVER and providing essential water storage for the surrounding area. With its historical significance dating back to the late 1950s, there is a need for further evaluation of the dam's condition and the development of comprehensive risk assessment and emergency preparedness measures. For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Baker Number 2 presents an intriguing case study in the maintenance and management of aging infrastructure in the face of evolving environmental challenges.
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 Baker Number 2 -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| White River Near White River | 47 cfs | → |
| Little White R Below White River Sd | 117 cfs | → |
| Black Pipe Creek Nr Belvidere | 8 cfs | → |
| Little White R Near Rosebud Sd | 135 cfs | → |
| Bad R Near Fort Pierre Sd | 4 cfs | → |
| White R Near Kadoka Sd | 62 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Baker Number 2.
Track Baker Number 2 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 Baker Number 2
Where does the data for Baker Number 2 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 Baker Number 2.