New Wall Lake dam
New Wall Lake
New Wall Lake, located in Pennington County, South Dakota, is a state-regulated dam with a height of 40 feet and a length of 570 feet. Built in 1947, this earth dam serves the primary purpose of water resource management and flood control along the TR-Cheyenne river. With a maximum storage capacity of 460 acre-feet and a normal storage level of 280 acre-feet, the dam plays a crucial role in maintaining water supply and managing peak discharge levels in the area.
Despite being classified as low hazard potential, New Wall Lake dam undergoes regular inspections and maintenance by the South Dakota Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources. The last inspection in September 2017 deemed its condition as "not rated", indicating a need for further assessment. The dam's Emergency Action Plan (EAP) status and risk management measures are currently unspecified, highlighting the need for ongoing monitoring and preparedness in the face of potential emergencies.
Water resource and climate enthusiasts will appreciate the significance of New Wall Lake in the local ecosystem and its role in water management within the St. Paul District. With its strategic location and operational history dating back over seven decades, this dam stands as a testament to the importance of infrastructure in mitigating natural disasters and ensuring sustainable water resource practices 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 New Wall Lake -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Cheyenne River Near Wasta | 80 cfs | → |
| Elk Cr Near Elm Springs Sd | 1 cfs | → |
| South Fork Bad R Near Cottonwood Sd | · | → |
| White R Near Interior Sd | 59 cfs | → |
| Rapid Cr Near Farmingdale Sd | 35 cfs | → |
| Belle Fourche River Near Elm Springs | 106 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near New Wall Lake.
Track New Wall Lake 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 New Wall Lake
Where does the data for New Wall Lake 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 New Wall Lake.