Howard Capp dam
Howard Capp
Howard Capp is a privately owned earth dam located in Perkins, South Dakota, along the TR Moreau River. Constructed in 1952, this dam stands at 17 feet tall and has a storage capacity of 102 acre-feet, with a normal storage level of 70 acre-feet. Managed by the Natural Resources Conservation Service, Howard Capp is regulated by the South Dakota Department of Environment and Natural Resources, ensuring that it is properly inspected, permitted, and maintained to meet state standards.
Despite being categorized as having a low hazard potential and being in "Not Rated" condition, Howard Capp plays a vital role in water resource management and flood control in the region. With a maximum discharge capacity of 500 cubic feet per second, this dam helps regulate water flow along the TR Moreau River and provides essential water storage capabilities for local agriculture and wildlife. The dam's location and design make it a key component in the broader water infrastructure network within the St. Paul District, ensuring the efficient and sustainable use of water resources in the area.
While Howard Capp may not be a high-profile structure, its significance in water resource management cannot be understated. As climate change impacts water availability and extreme weather events become more frequent, dams like Howard Capp will play a crucial role in adapting to these challenges and ensuring the long-term sustainability of water resources in South Dakota. By continuing to monitor, maintain, and enhance the capabilities of dams like Howard Capp, water resource enthusiasts can contribute to a more resilient and climate-ready future for 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 Howard Capp -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Moreau R Near Faith Sd | 135 cfs | → |
| South Fork Grand R Near Cash Sd | 34 cfs | → |
| Cheyenne R Near Plainview Sd | 4,730 cfs | → |
| North Fork Grand R Near White Butte Sd | 2 cfs | → |
| Belle Fourche River Near Elm Springs | 411 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Howard Capp.
Track Howard Capp 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 Howard Capp
Where does the data for Howard Capp 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 Howard Capp.