Columbia Road Dam dam
Columbia Road Dam
Columbia Road Dam, located in South Dakota along the James River, is a Federal-owned structure managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Built in 1939, this Earth-type dam stands at a height of 10 feet and spans a length of 3100 feet, with a storage capacity of 41,933 acre-feet. The primary purpose of the dam is to support a Fish and Wildlife Pond, providing essential habitat for local wildlife.
Despite its age, Columbia Road Dam remains in fair condition with a low hazard potential. The dam features a Tainter (radial) outlet gate and has undergone modifications in 1996 to enhance its hydraulic and mechanical functions. With a drainage area of 4140 acres and a surface area of 6050 acres, the dam plays a crucial role in managing water resources and supporting environmental conservation efforts in the region.
Maintaining a regular inspection frequency of 5 years, Columbia Road Dam is continuously monitored to ensure its structural integrity and safety. With its strategic location and significant impact on the surrounding ecosystem, this dam serves as a vital resource for water management and climate resilience in Brown County, 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 Columbia Road Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| James R At Columbia Sd | 653 cfs | → |
| Elm R At Westport Sd | 31 cfs | → |
| Foot Creek Near Aberdeen | 115 cfs | → |
| James River At Nd-Sd State Line | 697 cfs | → |
| Maple R At Nd-Sd State Line | 15 cfs | → |
| James R Near Stratford Sd | 779 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Columbia Road Dam .
Boat launches
- County Road 6 Brown County
- 382nd Avenue Brown County
- 127th Street 37861, Brown County
- County Road 13 Brown County
- 101st Street Southeast Dickey County
Track Columbia Road Dam 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 Columbia Road Dam
Where does the data for Columbia Road Dam 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 Columbia Road Dam .