Vogeler Lake dam
Vogeler Lake
Vogeler Lake in Faulk, South Dakota, is a privately owned earth dam that was completed in 1938 by the Works Progress Administration (WPA). With a height of 18 feet and a length of 745 feet, it has a storage capacity of 180 acre-feet, making it a crucial water resource in the region. The dam is situated on the TR-SNAKE river and is regulated by the South Dakota Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources (DANR).
Despite its low hazard potential, Vogeler Lake plays a significant role in managing water flow and providing irrigation for surrounding areas. The dam has a maximum discharge capacity of 560 cubic feet per second and an uncontrolled spillway with a width of 20 feet. While the dam's condition is currently not rated, regular inspections are conducted to ensure its structural integrity and safety. The risk assessment for the dam is moderate, indicating the need for ongoing monitoring and management measures to mitigate potential hazards.
Vogeler Lake stands as a historical landmark and a vital component of the local water infrastructure, serving as a testament to the New Deal era construction efforts. As climate change continues to impact water resources, the importance of maintaining and monitoring dams like Vogeler Lake for sustainable water management becomes increasingly crucial. As water resource and climate enthusiasts, understanding the significance of structures like Vogeler Lake is essential in ensuring the resilience of our water systems in the face of changing environmental conditions.
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 Vogeler Lake -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| James R At Ashton Sd | 894 cfs | → |
| James R Near Redfield Sd | 942 cfs | → |
| James R Near Stratford Sd | 776 cfs | → |
| Foot Creek Near Aberdeen | 122 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Vogeler Lake.
More reservoirs
Track Vogeler Lake 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 Vogeler Lake
Where does the data for Vogeler Lake 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 Vogeler Lake.