Deerfield dam
Deerfield
Deerfield is a Federal-owned structure located in Rapid City, South Dakota, along Castle Creek. Completed in 1946, this Earth-type dam stands at a height of 171 feet and has a storage capacity of 42,310 acre-feet. Its primary purpose is for Fish and Wildlife Pond, with additional functions including irrigation and water supply. The dam has a high hazard potential and a moderate risk assessment rating.
Managed by the Bureau of Reclamation, Deerfield plays a crucial role in regulating water resources in the region. With a maximum discharge capacity of 103,400 cubic feet per second and a surface area of 423 acres, the dam serves as a key infrastructure for both flood control and water storage. Despite its age, Deerfield has undergone modifications in 1984 to enhance its hydraulic and structural capabilities, ensuring its continued effectiveness in water management.
While Deerfield has not been assessed for its current condition, its last inspection was conducted in August 2020. The dam is operated and inspected by the Bureau of Reclamation, with oversight from the Forest Service. As a vital component of the water supply infrastructure in Pennington, South Dakota, Deerfield remains a critical asset for maintaining the ecological balance of the area and supporting various water-related activities.
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 Deerfield -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Castle Cr Below Deerfield Dam Sd | 10 cfs | → |
| Castle Cr Above Deerfield Res Near Hill City Sd | 10 cfs | → |
| Rhoads Fork Near Rochford Sd | 4 cfs | → |
| Rapid Cr Above Pactola Res At Silver City | 22 cfs | → |
| Beaver Creek At Mallo Camp | 3 cfs | → |
| Rapid Cr Below Pactola Dam Sd | 79 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Deerfield.
Boat launches
- Deerfield Cove Road Pennington County
- Jenney Gulch Picnic Area Fishing Access
- Fsr 450 Pennington County
- Pennington County
- Sheridan Lake Road 16451, Rapid City
- Calvert Road Pennington County
Campgrounds
Track Deerfield 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 Deerfield
Where does the data for Deerfield 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 Deerfield.