Schnose Dam No.2 dam
Schnose Dam No.2
Schnose Dam No.2 is a privately owned earth dam located in Custer, South Dakota. Built in 1947, this dam stands at a height of 15 feet and has a length of 555 feet. It serves as a critical structure on a tributary of the Cheyenne River, providing essential water storage with a capacity of 74 acre-feet.
Managed by the Natural Resources Conservation Service, Schnose Dam No.2 is regulated by the South Dakota Department of Environment and Natural Resources. Despite being classified as having a low hazard potential, the dam's condition is currently unrated, indicating the need for ongoing monitoring and maintenance. With a maximum discharge capacity of 1300 cubic feet per second, this dam plays a crucial role in water resource management in the region.
As a key component of the local water infrastructure, Schnose Dam No.2 serves as a vital resource for water supply and flood control. With its strategic location and capacity, this dam plays a significant role in ensuring the sustainability and resilience of the surrounding ecosystem in the face of changing climate conditions. Enthusiasts and stakeholders in water resources and climate issues will find Schnose Dam No.2 to be a fascinating case study in the intersection of infrastructure, regulation, and environmental stewardship.
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 Schnose Dam No.2 -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Beaver Cr Near Buffalo Gap Sd | 4 cfs | → |
| Beaver Creek Near Pringle | 5 cfs | → |
| French Cr Above Fairburn Sd | 2 cfs | → |
| Fall R At Hot Springs Sd | 35 cfs | → |
| Grace Coolidge Cr Nr Game Lodge Nr Custer Sd | 1 cfs | → |
| Cheyenne R Near Buffalo Gap Sd | 74 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Schnose Dam No.2.
Boat launches
- Bismark Lake Road Custer County
- South Boat Ramp Road Fall River County
- Fall River County
- Sheps Canyon Road Fall River County
- County Highway 6d Fall River County
- Calvert Road Pennington County
Campgrounds
- Elk Mountain Campground
- Elk Mountain - Wind Cave National Park
- Rifle Pit
- French Creek Horse Cg
- Blue Bell - Custer State Park
- Game Lodge - Custer State Park
Track Schnose Dam No.2 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 Schnose Dam No.2
Where does the data for Schnose Dam No.2 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 Schnose Dam No.2.