Petersen Hans No.1 dam
Petersen Hans No.1
Petersen Hans No.1 is a private-owned dam located in Mellette, South Dakota, along the tributary of White River. Built in 1972, this earth dam stands at 26 feet tall and stretches 335 feet in length, with a storage capacity of 16 acre-feet. Despite its low hazard potential and current "Not Rated" condition assessment, the dam is regulated by the South Dakota Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), with regular inspections and enforcement to ensure its safety and compliance with state regulations.
Operated by the St. Paul District of the US Army Corps of Engineers, Petersen Hans No.1 is designed to provide flood control and water resource management in the region. Although details on its primary purpose and associated structures are not specified, the dam plays a crucial role in protecting the surrounding area from potential flooding events and maintaining a stable water supply. With a maximum discharge capacity of 96 cfs, the dam serves as a key infrastructure for mitigating the impacts of extreme weather events and climate variability in South Dakota.
While specific risk assessment and management measures are not detailed in the available data, Petersen Hans No.1's presence highlights the importance of sustainable water resource management and infrastructure resilience in the face of changing climate patterns. As climate enthusiasts and water resource professionals, understanding and monitoring the condition and performance of dams like Petersen Hans No.1 is essential for ensuring the safety and sustainability of our water resources in the long run.
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 Petersen Hans No.1 -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| White River Near White River | 47 cfs | → |
| Little White R Below White River Sd | 117 cfs | → |
| Black Pipe Creek Nr Belvidere | 8 cfs | → |
| Little White R Near Rosebud Sd | 135 cfs | → |
| White R Near Kadoka Sd | 62 cfs | → |
| South Fork Bad R Near Cottonwood Sd | · | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Petersen Hans No.1.
More reservoirs
Track Petersen Hans 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 Petersen Hans No.1
Where does the data for Petersen Hans 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 Petersen Hans No.1.