D. Gifford No.2 dam
D. Gifford No.2
D. Gifford No.2 is a private dam located in Meade, South Dakota, along the TR CHEYENNE river. This earth dam stands at a height of 18 feet, with a length of 485 feet, and was completed in 1959. The dam has a storage capacity of 86 acre-feet, with a normal storage of 46 acre-feet and a maximum discharge of 1240 cubic feet per second. Despite being categorized as low hazard potential, the condition assessment for D. Gifford No.2 is currently marked as "Not Rated".
Managed by the South Dakota Department of Environment and Natural Resources, D. Gifford No.2 is subject to state regulations, permitting, inspection, and enforcement. While the dam has not been rated for its condition, it is still considered to meet safety standards. The dam does not have an Emergency Action Plan (EAP) prepared, and there is limited information available about its risk assessment and management measures. However, with its relatively low hazard potential, D. Gifford No.2 remains a crucial structure for water resource management in the area.
In terms of oversight and funding, D. Gifford No.2 does not fall under the jurisdiction of any federal agencies, such as the US Army Corps of Engineers. The dam is solely owned and operated by a private entity. With its location in a rural area and its importance for water storage along the TR CHEYENNE river, D. Gifford No.2 serves as a vital piece of infrastructure for the local community, contributing to water resource management and climate resilience efforts in South Dakota.
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 D. Gifford No.2 -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Cheyenne R Near Plainview Sd | 4,730 cfs | → |
| Moreau R Near Faith Sd | 135 cfs | → |
| Belle Fourche River Near Elm Springs | 411 cfs | → |
| Elk Cr Near Elm Springs Sd | 2 cfs | → |
| Belle Fourche R Near Sturgis Sd | 312 cfs | → |
| Cheyenne River Near Wasta | 2,480 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near D. Gifford No.2.
More reservoirs
Track D. Gifford No.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 D. Gifford No.2
Where does the data for D. Gifford No.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 D. Gifford No.2.