Haystack Butte Dam dam
Haystack Butte Dam
Haystack Butte Dam, located in Fall River, South Dakota, stands as a testament to early 20th-century engineering with its completion in 1930. This private-owned Earth dam spans 400 feet in length and towers at a height of 21 feet, serving as a crucial structure on the TRIBUTARY WHITE RIVER. With a storage capacity of 168 acre-feet, the dam plays a vital role in regulating water flow and ensuring water security in the region.
Managed and regulated by the South Dakota Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Haystack Butte Dam boasts a low hazard potential and is currently rated as 'Not Rated' in terms of its condition assessment. Despite its age, the dam continues to fulfill its primary purpose effectively, showcasing the resilience and durability of its construction. With state-mandated inspections, permitting, and enforcement in place, the dam remains a reliable water resource for the surrounding area.
As climate change impacts water resources and precipitation patterns, the significance of structures like Haystack Butte Dam becomes increasingly pronounced. With a maximum discharge capacity of 2250 cubic feet per second, the dam plays a crucial role in flood control and water management, highlighting its importance in mitigating the effects of extreme weather events. As water resource and climate enthusiasts, understanding and appreciating the role of dams like Haystack Butte Dam is essential in ensuring sustainable water management practices for future generations.
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 Haystack Butte Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Horsehead Cr At Oelrichs Sd | · | → |
| Cheyenne R Below Angostura Dam Sd | 1 cfs | → |
| Beaver Cr Near Buffalo Gap Sd | 2 cfs | → |
| White R Near Oglala Sd | 101 cfs | → |
| Hat Cr Near Edgemont Sd | 0 cfs | → |
| Fall R At Hot Springs Sd | 34 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Haystack Butte Dam.
Boat launches
- Fall River County
- County Highway 6d Fall River County
- Sheps Canyon Road Fall River County
- South Boat Ramp Road Fall River County
- Whitney Lake
Campgrounds
- Angostura State Rec Area
- Cottonwood Springs
- Elk Mountain Campground
- Elk Mountain - Wind Cave National Park
- Rifle Pit
- French Creek
Fishing spots
Track Haystack Butte 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 Haystack Butte Dam
Where does the data for Haystack Butte 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 Haystack Butte Dam.