Carthage dam
Carthage
Carthage, a state-owned dam located in South Dakota along the Redstone Creek, was completed in 1964 by the South Dakota Game, Fish, and Parks department. This Earth dam stands at 24 feet tall with a hydraulic height of 26 feet, serving the primary purpose of water resource management. With a storage capacity of 7000 acre-feet and a drainage area of 160 square miles, Carthage plays a crucial role in regulating water flow and providing essential water resources to the surrounding area.
Despite its low hazard potential, Carthage undergoes regular inspections every three years to ensure its structural integrity and operational efficiency. The dam features an uncontrolled spillway with a width of 200 feet and vertical lift outlet gates. The risk assessment for Carthage is moderate, indicating the need for ongoing monitoring and risk management measures to ensure the safety and effectiveness of the structure in the face of changing climate conditions and water resource demands.
Located in Miner County, Carthage is a key component of the water infrastructure in the region, overseen by the South Dakota Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources. With its vital role in water storage and management, Carthage serves as a critical asset for water resource and climate enthusiasts interested in understanding the impact of dams on water availability and climate resilience 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 Carthage -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| James R Near Forestburg Sd | 995 cfs | → |
| James R At Huron Sd | 924 cfs | → |
| James R Near Mitchell Sd | 979 cfs | → |
| Firesteel Cr Near Mount Vernon Sd | 0 cfs | → |
| Big Sioux River Near Bruce | 250 cfs | → |
| Big Sioux River Near Brookings Sd | 280 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Carthage.
Boat launches
- 436th Avenue Kingsbury County
- Flood Club Road Kingsbury County
- 212th Street 44254, Kingsbury County
- 200th Street 42926, Kingsbury County
- State Park Drive Lake County
Campgrounds
- Lake Carthage
- Redstone City Park
- Howard City Park
- Ingalls Homestead Museum
- Washington Park
- Memorial Park - Huron
More reservoirs
Track Carthage 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 Carthage
Where does the data for Carthage 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 Carthage.