Roger Weiss dam
Roger Weiss
Roger Weiss is a privately owned earth dam located in Meade, South Dakota, along the West Branch Pine Creek. Constructed in 1960 by the USDA NRCS, this dam stands at 18 feet tall and spans 900 feet in length, providing a storage capacity of 405 acre-feet. With a low hazard potential and a moderate risk assessment rating of 3, this dam is regulated by the South Dakota Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and undergoes regular inspections, permitting, and enforcement to ensure its structural integrity and safety.
Managed by a private owner, Roger Weiss serves as a crucial water resource infrastructure in the region, supporting a drainage area of 7 square miles and a maximum discharge capacity of 660 cubic feet per second. The dam features an uncontrolled spillway with a width of 80 feet, designed to handle excess water flow during peak periods. While the condition assessment of Roger Weiss is currently rated as "Not Rated," its risk management measures and emergency action plan preparedness are areas that may require further attention and development to enhance overall safety and resilience in the face of potential climate impacts.
Overall, Roger Weiss plays a vital role in water resource management and flood control in Meade County, South Dakota. With its historical significance dating back to the 1960s, this dam continues to provide essential storage capacity for irrigation, water supply, and environmental conservation purposes. As climate change poses new challenges to water infrastructure resilience, ongoing monitoring, maintenance, and risk assessment efforts are essential to ensure the long-term safety and effectiveness of Roger Weiss in safeguarding the local community and ecosystem.
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 Roger Weiss -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Moreau R Near Faith Sd | 11 cfs | → |
| Belle Fourche R Near Sturgis Sd | 120 cfs | → |
| Belle Fourche River Near Elm Springs | 121 cfs | → |
| Horse Cr Above Vale Sd | 13 cfs | → |
| Cheyenne R Near Plainview Sd | 238 cfs | → |
| Whitewood Cr Above Vale Sd | · | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Roger Weiss.
Track Roger Weiss 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 Roger Weiss
Where does the data for Roger Weiss 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 Roger Weiss.