Knippling Stockwater No.4 dam
Knippling Stockwater No.4
Knippling Stockwater No.4 in Buffalo, South Dakota, is a privately owned earth dam completed in 1953 by the Natural Resources Conservation Service. With a height of 18 feet and a length of 585 feet, this dam serves as a vital water resource for the area, providing a storage capacity of 72 acre-feet and a maximum discharge of 259 cubic feet per second. Despite its age, the dam is regulated and inspected by the South Dakota Department of Environment and Natural Resources, ensuring its structural integrity and proper maintenance.
Located in a significant hazard potential area, Knippling Stockwater No.4 is categorized as "Not Rated" in terms of condition assessment, reflecting the need for ongoing monitoring and management. While the dam does not have an Emergency Action Plan (EAP) in place, it is subject to state jurisdiction, permitting, and enforcement. As climate change continues to impact water resources and infrastructure, the importance of maintaining and upgrading dams like Knippling Stockwater No.4 to withstand potential hazards and ensure the safety of the surrounding community becomes increasingly crucial.
As water resource and climate enthusiasts, it is essential to recognize the role of dams like Knippling Stockwater No.4 in managing water supply, flood control, and overall ecosystem health. By staying informed about the regulatory oversight, condition assessment, and risk management measures associated with such structures, we can advocate for sustainable practices and investment in infrastructure that addresses the challenges posed by a changing climate. Knippling Stockwater No.4 stands as a reminder of the critical role that water infrastructure plays in mitigating climate impacts and ensuring the resilience of communities in the face of environmental threats.
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 Knippling Stockwater No.4 -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| White R Near Oacoma Sd | 131 cfs | → |
| Firesteel Cr Near Mount Vernon Sd | 0 cfs | → |
| Platte Creek Near Platte | 1 cfs | → |
| James R At Huron Sd | 869 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Knippling Stockwater No.4.
Boat launches
- Lyman County
- East Glenn Avenue 309, Chamberlain
- Oacoma
- Chaney Rush Road Hughes County
- Joe Creek Boat Ramp
Track Knippling Stockwater No.4 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 Knippling Stockwater No.4
Where does the data for Knippling Stockwater No.4 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 Significant 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 Knippling Stockwater No.4.