King Dam No. 1 dam
King Dam No. 1
King Dam No. 1, located in Haakon, South Dakota, is a privately owned earth dam constructed in 1960 by the Natural Resources Conservation Service. With a height of 30 feet and a length of 800 feet, the dam provides a storage capacity of 740 acre-feet and serves the purpose of regulating flow on the TR-BAD RIVER. Despite its age, the dam has a high hazard potential and poor condition assessment, indicating the need for maintenance and potential upgrades to ensure its continued safety and functionality.
Managed by the state of South Dakota, King Dam No. 1 is regulated, permitted, inspected, and enforced by the Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources. The dam's last inspection in November 2020 revealed its poor condition, highlighting the importance of regular monitoring and maintenance to prevent potential risks and ensure public safety. With a drainage area of 1 square mile and a maximum discharge capacity of 1374 cubic feet per second, the dam plays a crucial role in managing water resources in the region.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, King Dam No. 1 presents an intriguing case study of a vital infrastructure that requires attention and investment to address its deteriorating condition and high hazard potential. As climate change impacts continue to affect water resources, the maintenance and resilience of dams like King Dam No. 1 become increasingly important in ensuring the safety and sustainability of water management systems. The collaboration between federal and state agencies, as well as the involvement of private owners, will be essential in securing the long-term functionality and safety of this critical water resource infrastructure.
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 King Dam No. 1 -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Cheyenne R Near Plainview Sd | 320 cfs | → |
| South Fork Bad R Near Cottonwood Sd | · | → |
| White R Near Kadoka Sd | 83 cfs | → |
| Cheyenne River Near Wasta | 102 cfs | → |
| Elk Cr Near Elm Springs Sd | 1 cfs | → |
| Black Pipe Creek Nr Belvidere | 13 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near King Dam No. 1.
Track King Dam No. 1 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 King Dam No. 1
Where does the data for King Dam No. 1 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 High 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 King Dam No. 1.