H.C. Calhoun dam
H.C. Calhoun
H.C. Calhoun is a privately owned dam located in Hughes, South Dakota, with a low hazard potential. Built in 1954, this earth dam stands at 13 feet tall and spans 450 feet in length, providing a maximum storage capacity of 59 acre-feet. The dam is regulated by the South Dakota Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and undergoes regular inspections, permitting, and enforcement to ensure its safety and compliance with state regulations.
Managed by the Natural Resources Conservation Service, H.C. Calhoun serves a crucial role in water resource management in the region. With a normal storage capacity of 16 acre-feet and a maximum discharge capability of 900 cubic feet per second, this dam plays a vital role in flood control and water supply for the surrounding area. Despite not being rated for its condition assessment, the dam continues to fulfill its purpose effectively while meeting state jurisdiction requirements and serving as a valuable asset for the community.
Overall, H.C. Calhoun stands as a significant infrastructure for water resource and climate enthusiasts in South Dakota. With its historical significance dating back to the 1950s and its continued operation under state regulation, this dam showcases a balance between human development and environmental stewardship. As a low-hazard structure with a key role in water management, H.C. Calhoun embodies the importance of sustainable infrastructure for addressing the challenges of water resources and climate change in the region.
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 H.C. Calhoun -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Bad R Near Fort Pierre Sd | 4 cfs | → |
| White R Near Oacoma Sd | 131 cfs | → |
| White River Near White River | 47 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near H.C. Calhoun.
Boat launches
- 312th Avenue Hughes County
- Joe Creek Boat Ramp
- Chaney Rush Road Hughes County
- Lyman County
- Hughes County
- West Shore State Lakeside Use Area
Campgrounds
- West Bend State Rec Area - Pierre
- Iron Nation - Lake Sharpe
- Byre Lake Recreation Area
- North Shore -Coe
- Old Fort Thompson - Coe
- City Park East - Highmore
More reservoirs
Track H.C. Calhoun 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 H.C. Calhoun
Where does the data for H.C. Calhoun 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 H.C. Calhoun.