M. Oehlerking dam
M. Oehlerking
M. Oehlerking is a privately owned dam located in Hyde, South Dakota, along the West Fork Elm Creek. Built in 1935, this earth dam stands at a height of 19 feet with a length of 705 feet, providing a storage capacity of 263 acre-feet. While primarily used for water resource management, the dam also serves as a regulatory structure under the jurisdiction of the South Dakota Department of Environment and Natural Resources.
Despite its age, M. Oehlerking has been deemed to have a low hazard potential and its condition is currently not rated. The dam has not been inspected recently, and there is no established inspection frequency recorded. While emergency action plans and risk assessments are not documented, the dam's purpose and associated structures remain unspecified. Overall, M. Oehlerking represents a vital piece of South Dakota's water infrastructure, requiring further evaluation and maintenance to ensure its continued safety and functionality for the surrounding community and environment.
Located within the St. Paul District of the US Army Corps of Engineers, M. Oehlerking is not directly managed by federal agencies. However, the dam falls under state regulation, permitting, inspection, and enforcement by the South Dakota DENR. As a key feature in the water management system along the West Fork Elm Creek, M. Oehlerking plays a crucial role in flood control and water supply for the region. With its historical significance and functional importance, ongoing monitoring and maintenance will be essential to preserve the integrity and effectiveness of this critical infrastructure asset.
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 M. Oehlerking -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| White R Near Oacoma Sd | 131 cfs | → |
| Bad R Near Fort Pierre Sd | 4 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near M. Oehlerking.
Track M. Oehlerking 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 M. Oehlerking
Where does the data for M. Oehlerking 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 M. Oehlerking.