Hand dam
Hand
Hand is a private dam located in Dewey, South Dakota, along the TR MOREAU river. Built in 1946, this earth dam stands at 17 feet tall and stretches 550 feet in length, with a storage capacity of 88 acre-feet. Managed by the South Dakota Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Hand is regulated, inspected, and enforced by the state to ensure its safety and compliance with regulations. Despite its low hazard potential, the dam's condition assessment is currently not rated, and it lacks an Emergency Action Plan (EAP) and other risk management measures.
Situated within the St. Paul District of the US Army Corps of Engineers, Hand poses minimal risk but remains a crucial water resource for the local area. The dam's primary purpose and associated structures are unspecified, and its last inspection date, condition assessment, and emergency preparedness status are unknown. With its location in a rural area and the absence of an inundation map or risk assessment, the importance of monitoring and maintaining Hand for water resource and climate enthusiasts cannot be understated.
As a significant feature in South Dakota's water infrastructure, Hand serves as a reminder of the importance of dam safety and regulation in mitigating risks and ensuring the sustainable management of water resources. With its historical significance dating back to the mid-20th century, ongoing monitoring and updates are essential to address any potential safety concerns and ensure the continued functionality of this earth dam. For enthusiasts interested in water resources and climate, Hand presents a 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 Hand -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Oak Cr Near Wakpala Sd | 10 cfs | → |
| Moreau R Near Whitehorse Sd | 48 cfs | → |
| Grand R At Little Eagle Sd | 41 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Hand.
Boat launches
- State Highway 1806 Corson County
- Walworth County
- Point Of View Road Campbell County
- Dewey County
- Potter County
Campgrounds
- Indian Creek - Lake Oahe
- Swan Creek State Rec Area
- Indian Memorial - Lake Oahe
- Lake Hiddenwood State Park
- West Whitlock State Rec Area
More reservoirs
Track Hand 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 Hand
Where does the data for Hand 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 Hand.