Sheridan Lake dam
Sheridan Lake
Sheridan Lake, located in Pennington, South Dakota, is a Federal-owned water resource managed by the Forest Service for recreation purposes. This Earth dam, completed in 1939, stands at a height of 134 feet and has a storage capacity of 22,043 acre-feet. The lake, fed by Spring Creek and covering a surface area of 0 acres, offers opportunities for fish and wildlife activities as well as recreational pursuits.
With a maximum discharge of 24,170 cubic feet per second and a controlled spillway width of 30 feet, Sheridan Lake poses a high hazard potential but is currently rated as in "Not Rated" condition. Despite its high risk assessment, the lake remains a popular destination for visitors seeking outdoor adventures in the scenic surroundings. The emergency action plan status and risk management measures for Sheridan Lake are currently not specified, indicating a need for further evaluation and planning to ensure the safety of the area.
Overall, Sheridan Lake presents a mix of natural beauty and potential risks, making it an intriguing destination for water resource and climate enthusiasts. As a key site managed by the Forest Service in South Dakota, the lake provides a valuable recreational opportunity while also requiring careful monitoring and management to address its high hazard potential. With its rich history and diverse offerings, Sheridan Lake continues to attract visitors looking to explore the unique ecosystem and enjoy the outdoor activities available in this Federal-owned water resource.
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 Sheridan Lake -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Spring Cr Near Keystone Sd | 2 cfs | → |
| Rapid Cr Below Pactola Dam Sd | 48 cfs | → |
| Rapid Cr Above Canyon Lake Near Rapid City Sd | 27 cfs | → |
| Battle Cr Near Keystone Sd | 1 cfs | → |
| Cleghorn Springs At Rapid City | 9 cfs | → |
| Rapid Cr Above Pactola Res At Silver City | 23 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Sheridan Lake.
⚓ Boat launches
- Calvert Road Pennington County
- Sheridan Lake Road 16451, Rapid City
- Pennington County
- Fsr 450 Pennington County
- Jenney Gulch Picnic Area Fishing Access
- Bismark Lake Road Custer County
⛺ Campgrounds
- Sheridan Lake South Shore Campground
- Sheridan Lake North Cove (Group Sites) Campground
- Sheridan Lake South Campground
- Sheridan Lake
- Horse Thief Lake Campground
- Horsethief Lake Campground
🎣 Fishing spots
- Sheridan Lake Complex
- Horsethief Lake Day Use Site
- Rapid Creek Trailhead & Fishing Access
- Veterans Point Fishing Pier
- Lakota Lake
- Bismark Lake
🛡 More reservoirs
More reservoirs →Track Sheridan 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 Sheridan Lake
Where does the data for Sheridan 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 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 Sheridan Lake.