Bruning No.1 dam
Bruning No.1
Bruning No.1, located in Mellette, South Dakota, is a state-regulated dam on the TR White Thunder Creek. Built in 1934, this earth dam stands at a height of 34 feet and spans a length of 760 feet, providing a storage capacity of 350 acre-feet. With a maximum discharge rate of 998 cubic feet per second, it serves a drainage area of 4 square miles. Despite being classified as having a high hazard potential, the dam's condition is currently assessed as fair, with its last inspection conducted in September 2017.
Managed by the South Dakota Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources (DANR), Bruning No.1 is subject to state permitting, inspection, and enforcement to ensure its safety and regulatory compliance. As a critical infrastructure for water resource management, this dam plays a vital role in flood control, irrigation, and water supply in the region. With its emergency action plan and risk management measures in place, the dam is equipped to address potential hazards and protect surrounding communities in the event of an emergency.
Water resource and climate enthusiasts can appreciate Bruning No.1 for its historical significance, engineering design, and environmental impact. As part of the St. Paul District under the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, this dam serves as a testament to the intersection of human ingenuity and natural resource management. By understanding the role of dams like Bruning No.1 in water conservation and climate resilience, enthusiasts can explore the complexities of balancing infrastructure development with environmental stewardship in the face of changing climate patterns.
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 Bruning No.1 -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Little White R Below White River Sd | 107 cfs | → |
| White River Near White River | 31 cfs | → |
| Little White R Near Rosebud Sd | 137 cfs | → |
| Keya Paha R Near Keyapaha Sd | 24 cfs | → |
| Black Pipe Creek Nr Belvidere | 7 cfs | → |
| Niobrara River Near Sparks | 734 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Bruning No.1.
Track Bruning No.1 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 Bruning No.1
Where does the data for Bruning No.1 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 Bruning No.1.