Leola dam
Leola
Located in McPherson, South Dakota, the Leola dam, also known as Lake Lunkquist, was completed in 1935 under the Works Progress Administration (WPA). This state-regulated earth dam stands at a height of 12 feet and stretches 850 feet in length, with a maximum storage capacity of 245 acre-feet. Fed by the TR-WILLOW CREEK river/stream, the dam serves a primary purpose not specified in the data, but its low hazard potential and moderate risk assessment suggest it plays a crucial role in water resource management for the region.
Maintained by the South Dakota Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources (DANR), Leola dam has a spillway width of 24 feet and a maximum discharge capacity of 480 cubic feet per second. Although its hazard potential is rated low, the dam's risk assessment is deemed moderate, indicating the need for ongoing monitoring and management. The dam's condition assessment is currently listed as "Not Rated," with the last inspection conducted in November 2019, showcasing the importance of regular infrastructure assessments to ensure its structural integrity and public safety.
Represented by Dusty Johnson (R) in Congress, the Leola dam remains an essential component of the local water infrastructure, providing critical flood control and water storage capabilities. With state oversight, including permitting, inspection, and enforcement mechanisms in place, the dam serves as a vital resource for the community while requiring continued diligence to mitigate potential risks and ensure its long-term functionality in the face of evolving climate conditions.
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 Leola -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Elm R At Westport Sd | 31 cfs | → |
| Foot Creek Near Aberdeen | 115 cfs | → |
| Maple R At Nd-Sd State Line | 15 cfs | → |
| James R At Columbia Sd | 653 cfs | → |
| James River At Nd-Sd State Line | 697 cfs | → |
| James R Near Stratford Sd | 779 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Leola.
Boat launches
- 127th Street 37861, Brown County
- County Road 13 Brown County
- Coldwater Lake Boating Access
- 382nd Avenue Brown County
- County Road 6 Brown County
Campgrounds
- Leola City Park
- Colliers Park - Ipswich
- Group Area
- Group Area Camping
- Richmond Lake State Rec Area
- Cold Water Park
More reservoirs
Track Leola 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 Leola
Where does the data for Leola 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 Leola.