Ring Thunder dam
Ring Thunder
Ring Thunder is a federal-owned recreational dam located in South Dakota, specifically in Todd County. Built in 1974 by the Bureau of Indian Affairs, this earth dam stands at a structural height of 30 feet and spans 900 feet in length. With a storage capacity of 300 acre-feet, the primary purpose of Ring Thunder is for recreation, offering visitors the opportunity to enjoy the surrounding Little Oak Creek-Tr stream.
Despite its recreational appeal, Ring Thunder poses a high hazard potential, with a very high risk assessment rating. However, the condition assessment is currently marked as "Not Available," and the last inspection was conducted in August 2012 with a frequency of every 5 years. It is crucial that risk management measures are put in place to address the potential risks associated with this dam, given its location and the high hazard potential it presents.
In the event of an emergency, it is unclear whether an Emergency Action Plan (EAP) has been prepared for Ring Thunder, as the status is listed as "Not Available." It is essential for the Bureau of Indian Affairs to update and ensure that the EAP meets established guidelines to protect surrounding communities in the event of a dam failure. With proper risk assessment and management measures in place, Ring Thunder can continue to provide recreational opportunities while ensuring the safety of those who visit and live in the area.
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 Ring Thunder -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Little White R Near Rosebud Sd | 141 cfs | → |
| Little White R Below White River Sd | 112 cfs | → |
| White River Near White River | 40 cfs | → |
| Little White R Near Vetal Sd | 128 cfs | → |
| Black Pipe Creek Nr Belvidere | 13 cfs | → |
| Niobrara River Near Sparks | 865 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Ring Thunder.
Track Ring Thunder 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 Ring Thunder
Where does the data for Ring Thunder 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 Ring Thunder.