White Clay dam
White Clay
White Clay is a federal-owned dam located in Pine Ridge, South Dakota, along the White Clay Creek. Built in 1936 for the primary purpose of recreation, this earth dam stands at 41 feet tall with a length of 1090 feet, creating a surface area of 75 acres. Despite its small size, White Clay poses a high hazard potential, with a very high risk assessment rating. The Bureau of Indian Affairs is in charge of ownership, funding, design, construction, regulation, inspection, and operation of this dam.
Due to its high hazard potential and risk assessment, White Clay Dam is closely monitored, with inspections occurring every 5 years. The spillway is controlled with a width of 100 feet, and the dam has no associated locks or outlet gates. The dam's condition assessment is not available, but emergency action plans have been prepared and updated, meeting guidelines as of October 2015. Despite its recreational purpose, the dam's risk level remains a cause for concern, requiring ongoing risk management measures to ensure public safety and water resource sustainability in the area.
White Clay Dam serves as a significant recreational resource for the community, offering opportunities for fishing, boating, and other outdoor activities. However, its high hazard potential underscores the importance of ongoing monitoring and risk management to prevent potential disasters. With the Bureau of Indian Affairs overseeing its operations, White Clay continues to be a focal point for water resource and climate enthusiasts, highlighting the intersection of human activity and environmental conservation in the region.
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 White Clay -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| White R Nr Ne-Sd State Line | 5 cfs | → |
| White R Near Oglala Sd | 101 cfs | → |
| Horsehead Cr At Oelrichs Sd | · | → |
| Cheyenne R Near Buffalo Gap Sd | 77 cfs | → |
| Little White R Near Martin Sd | 12 cfs | → |
| Lake Cr Above Refuge Near Tuthill Sd | 26 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near White Clay.
More reservoirs
Track White Clay 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 White Clay
Where does the data for White Clay 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 White Clay.