Earl Mcpherson Dam No.1 dam
Earl Mcpherson Dam No.1
Earl Mcpherson Dam No.1, located in Meade, South Dakota, is a privately-owned earth dam completed in 1958. This dam stands at a height of 30 feet and has a length of 266 feet, providing a storage capacity of 45 acre-feet. Situated on a tributary of Alkali Creek, this dam is regulated by the South Dakota Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and undergoes regular inspections and enforcement measures to ensure its safety and integrity.
Despite being classified as having a low hazard potential, Earl Mcpherson Dam No.1 has not been rated for its condition assessment. The dam's emergency action plan (EAP) status, including preparedness and guideline adherence, remains unclear. With a maximum discharge capacity of 600 cubic feet per second, this dam plays a crucial role in managing water resources in the region. The Natural Resources Conservation Service was responsible for its design, highlighting the collaboration between private ownership and federal agencies in water resource management.
Although specific details on the dam's risk assessment and management measures are not available, its presence serves as a vital component of the local water infrastructure. As climate change continues to impact water resources, structures like Earl Mcpherson Dam No.1 play a critical role in ensuring water security and mitigating potential risks. For water resource and climate enthusiasts, this dam represents an important piece of the puzzle in understanding the intersection between infrastructure, regulation, and environmental stewardship in South Dakota.
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 Earl Mcpherson Dam No.1 -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Belle Fourche River Near Elm Springs | 138 cfs | → |
| Elk Cr Near Elm Springs Sd | 1 cfs | → |
| Elk Cr Nr Rapid City Sd | 14 cfs | → |
| Belle Fourche R Near Sturgis Sd | 137 cfs | → |
| Rapid Cr Bl Sewage Treatment Pl Nr Rapid City | 40 cfs | → |
| Cheyenne River Near Wasta | 112 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Earl Mcpherson Dam No.1.
Campgrounds
- Ellsworth Afb Military
- Rapid City - Black Hills Koa
- Central States Fairgrounds
- Little Jon Park
- Canyon Lake Cottages
Track Earl Mcpherson 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 Earl Mcpherson Dam No.1
Where does the data for Earl Mcpherson 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 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 Earl Mcpherson Dam No.1.