Amsden dam
Amsden
Amsden is a state-regulated dam located in South Dakota along the James River. Built in 1937 by the Works Progress Administration (WPA), this earth dam stands at a height of 35 feet and spans a length of 690 feet, with a storage capacity of 4,815 acre-feet. The dam's primary purpose and associated structures are not specified, but it serves to control the flow of the James River and mitigate flood risks in the surrounding area.
With a low hazard potential and a moderate risk assessment rating of 3, Amsden is deemed to have a manageable level of risk. The dam is inspected every three years, with the last inspection carried out in November 2019. While the condition assessment is listed as "Not Rated," the dam is equipped with an uncontrolled spillway with a width of 75 feet. Amsden's emergency action plan status, inundation maps, and risk management measures are not specified, suggesting potential areas for improvement in terms of emergency preparedness and mitigation strategies.
Overall, Amsden serves as an essential infrastructure for water resource management and flood control in the region. Its historical significance as a WPA project highlights the importance of maintaining and monitoring such structures to ensure public safety and environmental sustainability in the face of changing climate conditions. As water resource and climate enthusiasts, staying informed about the state of dams like Amsden is crucial for understanding the intersection of water management, infrastructure resilience, and climate adaptation efforts.
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 Amsden -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| James R Near Stratford Sd | 772 cfs | → |
| James R At Columbia Sd | 618 cfs | → |
| Foot Creek Near Aberdeen | 104 cfs | → |
| Elm R At Westport Sd | 28 cfs | → |
| James R At Ashton Sd | 881 cfs | → |
| James R Near Redfield Sd | 939 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Amsden.
Track Amsden 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 Amsden
Where does the data for Amsden 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 Amsden.