Richtor Howard No.1 dam
Richtor Howard No.1
Richtor Howard No.1 is a privately owned dam located in Mellette, South Dakota, with a low hazard potential and a height of 28 feet. Built in 1963, this earth dam on the TRIB OAK CREEK OFFSTREAM river serves multiple purposes, including water storage and flood control. Managed by the Natural Resources Conservation Service, Richtor Howard No.1 is regulated by the South Dakota Department of Environment and Natural Resources, ensuring regular inspections and enforcement of safety standards.
With a storage capacity of 54 acre-feet and a normal storage level of 35 acre-feet, Richtor Howard No.1 plays a crucial role in managing water resources in the area. The dam has a maximum discharge rate of 432 cubic feet per second, contributing to the overall water flow dynamics in the region. Despite its age, the dam's condition is currently not rated, emphasizing the need for ongoing monitoring and maintenance to ensure its structural integrity and continued functionality for water resource management and climate resilience in the area.
Situated within the St. Paul District and under the jurisdiction of the South Dakota state regulatory agency, Richtor Howard No.1 stands as a testament to the importance of private-public partnerships in ensuring the safety and sustainability of water infrastructure. With its strategic location and design, this dam serves as a vital component of the local water management system, highlighting the critical role of small-scale dams in enhancing water security and climate adaptation efforts in the region.
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 Richtor Howard No.1 -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Little White R Below White River Sd | 123 cfs | → |
| White River Near White River | 31 cfs | → |
| Keya Paha R Near Keyapaha Sd | 24 cfs | → |
| Little White R Near Rosebud Sd | 135 cfs | → |
| White R Near Oacoma Sd | 97 cfs | → |
| Keya Paha R At Wewela Sd | 64 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Richtor Howard No.1.
More reservoirs
Track Richtor Howard 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 Richtor Howard No.1
Where does the data for Richtor Howard 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 Richtor Howard No.1.