Pactola dam
Pactola
Pactola Dam, located in South Dakota along the Rapid Creek, is a key structure managed by the Bureau of Reclamation for flood risk reduction. Completed in 1959, this earth dam stands at a towering height of 245 feet, with a length of 1255 feet and a storage capacity of 140,898 acre-feet. The dam's primary purposes include flood risk reduction, irrigation, recreation, and water supply for the surrounding area.
With a maximum discharge of 255,000 cubic feet per second and a high hazard potential, Pactola Dam plays a crucial role in managing water resources and mitigating flood risks in the region. The dam has undergone modifications in 1987 to enhance its hydraulic and structural components, ensuring its continued effectiveness in safeguarding the community. Despite its importance, detailed condition assessments and risk management measures for Pactola Dam are currently unavailable, highlighting the need for ongoing monitoring and maintenance to uphold its safety and functionality.
As a federal-owned structure under the jurisdiction of the Bureau of Reclamation, Pactola Dam serves as a vital asset in water resource management and climate resilience efforts. Its strategic location, impressive dimensions, and multi-purpose functionalities make it a significant landmark in the region, contributing to the overall sustainability and safety of water-related activities in South Dakota.
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 Pactola -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Rapid Cr Below Pactola Dam Sd | 48 cfs | → |
| Rapid Cr Above Pactola Res At Silver City | 23 cfs | → |
| Boxelder Cr Near Nemo Sd | 7 cfs | → |
| Rapid Cr Above Canyon Lake Near Rapid City Sd | 27 cfs | → |
| Cleghorn Springs At Rapid City | 9 cfs | → |
| Spring Cr Near Keystone Sd | 2 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Pactola.
⚓ Boat launches
- Pennington County
- Fsr 450 Pennington County
- Jenney Gulch Picnic Area Fishing Access
- Sheridan Lake Road 16451, Rapid City
- Calvert Road Pennington County
- Deerfield Cove Road Pennington County
⛺ Campgrounds
- Pactola Campground
- Pactola
- Bear Gulch (Group Site)
- Steamboat Rock Picnic & Tent Camping Area
- Sheridan Lake North Cove (Group Sites) Campground
- Sheridan Lake South Shore Campground
🎣 Fishing spots
- Rapid Creek Trailhead & Fishing Access
- Veterans Point Fishing Pier
- Sheridan Lake Complex
- Horsethief Lake Day Use Site
- Deerfield Reservoir Complex
- Lakota Lake
🛡 More reservoirs
More reservoirs →Track Pactola 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 Pactola
Where does the data for Pactola 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 Pactola.