Ole Lake Dam dam
Ole Lake Dam
Ole Lake Dam, located in Kingsbury, South Dakota, is a federal-owned structure designed by Ducks Unlimited, Inc. The dam serves as a Fish and Wildlife Pond, managed by the Fish and Wildlife Service for conservation purposes. Completed in 1990, the earth dam stands at 8 feet high with a hydraulic height of 6 feet, creating a storage capacity of 225 acre-feet and covering a surface area of 33.4 acres.
With a controlled spillway and low hazard potential, Ole Lake Dam has a fair condition assessment as of September 2020. Despite not being state-regulated, the dam site falls under the jurisdiction of the Department of Natural Resources (DENR). The dam's primary purpose is to support fish and wildlife activities in the region, with a very high risk assessment ranking due to its importance in managing water resources for the local ecosystem. Overall, Ole Lake Dam plays a crucial role in maintaining the ecological balance of the area.
Managed by the Fish and Wildlife Service, Ole Lake Dam remains a vital structure for water resource management and conservation efforts in South Dakota. Its strategic location near an unnamed tributary to Lake Preston-TR underscores its significance in supporting the local ecosystem. With a focus on environmental stewardship, the dam continues to provide essential habitat for various wildlife species while ensuring the proper management of water resources in the region. As a key component in the state's conservation efforts, Ole Lake Dam stands as a testament to the importance of sustainable practices in maintaining the balance of nature.
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 Ole Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Big Sioux River Near Bruce | 230 cfs | → |
| Big Sioux R Near Castlewood Sd | 104 cfs | → |
| Big Sioux River Near Brookings Sd | 244 cfs | → |
| Big Sioux R At Watertown Sd | 27 cfs | → |
| Skunk Cr Nr Chester Sd | 1 cfs | → |
| Flandreau Cr Above Flandreau Sd | 2 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Ole Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- 212th Street 44254, Kingsbury County
- Flood Club Road Kingsbury County
- 454th Avenue 19689, Kingsbury County
- 436th Avenue Kingsbury County
- Hamlin County
- Brookings County
Track Ole Lake 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 Ole Lake Dam
Where does the data for Ole Lake 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 Ole Lake Dam.