Tekakwitha dam
Tekakwitha
Tekakwitha is a privately owned dam located in Roberts, South Dakota, along the TR-Upper Little Minnesota River. Built in 1964 by the Natural Resources Conservation Service, this earth dam stands at a height of 22 feet and has a storage capacity of 186 acre-feet. With a low hazard potential and a condition assessment that has not been rated, Tekakwitha serves as a vital structure for water resource management in the area.
Managed by the South Dakota Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Tekakwitha is subject to state regulation, permitting, inspection, and enforcement. Although the dam has not been recently inspected and lacks certain emergency preparedness measures, it continues to play a crucial role in flood control and water supply for the region. With a maximum discharge capacity of 468 cubic feet per second, Tekakwitha is designed to mitigate potential risks and ensure the safety of surrounding communities.
Situated in a picturesque location in Roberts County, Tekakwitha showcases the intersection of human engineering and environmental stewardship. As climate change continues to impact water resources, structures like Tekakwitha play a vital role in adaptation and resilience efforts. With its history of construction and maintenance by federal and state agencies, Tekakwitha stands as a testament to the importance of sustainable water management practices in the face of a changing climate.
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 Tekakwitha -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Little Minnesota River Near Peever | 53 cfs | → |
| Bois De Sioux River Near White Rock | 94 cfs | → |
| Big Sioux River Nr Florence Sd | 7 cfs | → |
| Wild Rice River Nr Rutland | 50 cfs | → |
| Whetstone River Near Big Stone City | 63 cfs | → |
| Minnesota River At Ortonville | 84 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Tekakwitha.
Boat launches
- Mn 27 4924, Traverse County
- Mn 27 4906, Traverse County
- T149 5800, Traverse County
- Roy Lake State Park
- Roberts County
- Tewaukon Township
Campgrounds
- Browns Valley City Park
- Traverse County. Park Campground
- Big Stone Lake State Park Campground
- Waubay City Campground
- Big Stone County Toqua Park
- Chamber Of Commerce Campground - Webster
More reservoirs
Track Tekakwitha 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 Tekakwitha
Where does the data for Tekakwitha 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 Tekakwitha.