Wasserbnot Ratedger Pond dam
Wasserbnot Ratedger Pond
Wasserbnot Ratedger Pond, located in Fall River, South Dakota, is a privately owned earth dam structure built in 1945 with a height of 26 feet and a length of 990 feet. The pond has a storage capacity of 208 acre-feet and serves the primary purpose of water resource management. The dam is regulated by the South Dakota Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and undergoes regular inspections, enforcement, and permitting to ensure its safety and compliance with state regulations.
Despite its low hazard potential, the condition of Wasserbnot Ratedger Pond is currently not rated. The emergency action plan (EAP) for the dam has not been prepared or updated, and there are no risk assessment or management measures in place. The dam is not owned or funded by any federal agency, but the design was carried out by the Natural Resources Conservation Service. The pond is situated on Hat Creek and falls under the jurisdiction of the Omaha District of the US Army Corps of Engineers.
Water resource and climate enthusiasts interested in Wasserbnot Ratedger Pond can appreciate its historical significance and vital role in water management in the region. With its unique design and relatively low hazard potential, the pond serves as a noteworthy example of private dam ownership and state regulation. As efforts continue to assess and improve the overall condition and emergency preparedness of the dam, this site remains a valuable asset for understanding the intersection of water resources, infrastructure, 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 Wasserbnot Ratedger Pond -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Hat Cr Near Edgemont Sd | 0 cfs | → |
| Cheyenne R At Edgemont Sd | 4 cfs | → |
| Cheyenne R Below Angostura Dam Sd | 1 cfs | → |
| Horsehead Cr At Oelrichs Sd | · | → |
| Fall R At Hot Springs Sd | 37 cfs | → |
| Cheyenne River Near Spencer | 2 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Wasserbnot Ratedger Pond.
Boat launches
- County Highway 6d Fall River County
- Sheps Canyon Road Fall River County
- Fall River County
- South Boat Ramp Road Fall River County
- Whitney Lake
Campgrounds
- Toadstool
- Toadstool Geological Park And Campground
- Soldier Creek
- Angostura State Rec Area
- Crawford City Park
- Fort Robinson State Park
Paddle runs
Track Wasserbnot Ratedger Pond 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 Wasserbnot Ratedger Pond
Where does the data for Wasserbnot Ratedger Pond 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 Wasserbnot Ratedger Pond.