Sioux Falls Diversion dam
Sioux Falls Diversion
Sioux Falls Diversion, located in Minnehaha, South Dakota, along the Big Sioux River, is a gravity dam completed in 1960 with a height of 21 feet and a storage capacity of 1200 acre-feet. This structure is owned by the local government and regulated by the South Dakota Department of Environment and Natural Resources. It serves a significant purpose in flood control and water management for the city of Sioux Falls, with a maximum discharge capacity of 18600 cubic feet per second.
The dam's condition is currently not rated, but it is considered to have a significant hazard potential. Despite lacking recent inspection data, the dam is regularly permitted, inspected, and enforced by the state regulatory agency. With Dusty Johnson as the representative for the area in Congress, the Sioux Falls Diversion plays a crucial role in ensuring the safety and resilience of the community in the face of potential water-related emergencies. Enthusiasts of water resources and climate will find this dam an essential piece of infrastructure in maintaining the region's water security.
As a key feature in the St. Paul District, Sioux Falls Diversion serves as a vital component in the overall water management strategy for South Dakota. Its design and construction reflect the importance of controlling water flow and preventing potential flooding events along the Big Sioux River. With a history dating back to the 1960s, this gravity dam continues to play a crucial role in safeguarding the city of Sioux Falls and its surrounding areas from the impacts of extreme weather events and ensuring sustainable water resource management for the community.
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 Sioux Falls Diversion -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Big Sioux R At North Cliff Ave At Sioux Falls Sd | 350 cfs | → |
| Skunk Cr At Sioux Falls Sd | 3 cfs | → |
| Big Sioux R At Sioux Falls Sd | 26 cfs | → |
| Split Rock Cr At Corson Sd | 11 cfs | → |
| Big Sioux R Near Dell Rapids Sd | 341 cfs | → |
| Skunk Cr Nr Chester Sd | 0 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Sioux Falls Diversion.
Boat launches
- Wall Lake Boat Ramp
- Copperwood Court Lincoln County
- Split Rock Park Road Garretson
- Mccook County
- Trailer Sanitation Station Pipestone County
Track Sioux Falls Diversion 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 Sioux Falls Diversion
Where does the data for Sioux Falls Diversion 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 Significant 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 Sioux Falls Diversion.