Gavins Point Dam dam
Gavins Point Dam
Gavins Point Dam, located in Yankton, South Dakota, along the Missouri River, serves as a critical flood risk reduction infrastructure managed by the US Army Corps of Engineers. Completed in 1958, the dam plays a crucial role in protecting downstream populations and structures from catastrophic flooding. While the dam continues to reliably reduce floods, it cannot eliminate the risk of flooding entirely, especially during extreme events when the reservoir is at or near its maximum storage level. The dam's primary threats include erosion of the foundation, damage to the spillway, and powerhouse flooding, which could lead to a breach and devastating downstream flooding.
To manage the risks associated with Gavins Point Dam, the USACE Dam Safety Program implements ongoing actions such as monitoring, maintenance, and repairs, while working closely with state and local emergency management agencies to improve preparedness and public awareness of flood risks. Additionally, specific risk reduction measures have been implemented at the dam, including the installation of additional drains, enhanced monitoring instrumentation, and repairs to the spillway to improve resiliency during future flood events. Communities downstream are encouraged to stay informed about potential flood impacts and develop evacuation plans to reduce individual risks in the event of a breach or extreme flooding. For more information on water management in the Missouri River basin and the USACE Dam Safety Program, visit their official websites.
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 Gavins Point Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| James River Nr Yankton Sd | 1,010 cfs | → |
| James R Near Scotland Sd | 1,000 cfs | → |
| Bazile Creek Near Niobrara | 64 cfs | → |
| Bazile Creek At Center | 54 cfs | → |
| Vermillion River Nr Vermillion Sd | 83 cfs | → |
| Verdigre C Nr Verdigre | 206 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Gavins Point Dam.
Track Gavins Point Dam 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 Gavins Point Dam
Where does the data for Gavins Point Dam 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 High 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 Gavins Point Dam.