Carl Albright dam
Carl Albright
Carl Albright is a private-owned earth dam located in Hughes County, South Dakota, along the tributary of Medicine Creek. Built in 1956 by the Natural Resources Conservation Service, this 22-foot tall structure serves multiple purposes, including water storage of up to 50 acre-feet and a maximum discharge capacity of 625 cubic feet per second. Despite its low hazard potential, the dam's condition remains unrated, with no recent inspections or emergency action plans in place.
Situated within the St. Paul District of the US Army Corps of Engineers, Carl Albright plays a crucial role in managing water resources in the region. Although the dam has not undergone any significant modifications since its construction, its regulatory oversight by the South Dakota Department of Environment and Natural Resources ensures that it meets state permitting, inspection, and enforcement requirements. With its close proximity to the city of NONE, this structure not only contributes to flood control and water supply but also highlights the importance of maintaining and monitoring infrastructure for climate resilience.
As water resource and climate enthusiasts, understanding the significance of dams like Carl Albright is essential for sustainable water management practices. By recognizing the role of private owners and federal agencies in maintaining and regulating these structures, we can work towards ensuring the safety and efficiency of our water infrastructure. With ongoing advancements in risk assessment and emergency preparedness, it is crucial to prioritize the upkeep and monitoring of dams like Carl Albright to mitigate potential hazards and adapt to changing environmental conditions for the benefit of communities and ecosystems alike.
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 Carl Albright -- 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 | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Carl Albright.
Boat launches
- 312th Avenue Hughes County
- Hughes County
- Chaney Rush Road Hughes County
- Joe Creek Boat Ramp
- West Shore State Lakeside Use Area
- Lyman County
Campgrounds
- City Park East - Highmore
- East Park - Highmore
- West Bend State Rec Area - Pierre
- Iron Nation - Lake Sharpe
More reservoirs
Track Carl Albright 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 Carl Albright
Where does the data for Carl Albright 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 Carl Albright.