Baker Dam dam
Baker Dam
Baker Dam, located in Gregory, South Dakota, is a privately owned earth dam completed in 1979 with a height of 27 feet and a length of 400 feet. This dam, built on Tributary Ponca Creek, serves as a water resource structure with a storage capacity of 300 acre-feet. While the primary purpose of Baker Dam is not specified, it is regulated by the South Dakota Department of Environment and Natural Resources, ensuring its safe operation and maintenance.
Despite its low hazard potential and current "Not Rated" condition assessment, Baker Dam plays a crucial role in water management in the region, with a normal storage capacity of 206 acre-feet. The dam's maximum discharge capacity is 340 cubic feet per second, providing essential flood control measures for the surrounding area. With state jurisdiction, permitting, inspection, and enforcement in place, Baker Dam is well-managed to withstand potential climate challenges and ensure the safety of nearby communities.
Overall, Baker Dam stands as a testament to effective private ownership and state regulation in water resource management. With a diligent emergency action plan in place and regular risk assessments, this structure remains a vital asset in the region's water infrastructure. As climate change continues to impact water resources, Baker Dam's role in flood control and water storage will be crucial for mitigating potential risks and ensuring the sustainable management of this vital resource.
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 Baker Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Platte Creek Near Platte | 0 cfs | → |
| Niobrara River At Mariaville | 1,700 cfs | → |
| Niobrara River Nr. Verdel | 2,750 cfs | → |
| Ponca Creek At Verdel | 13 cfs | → |
| Keya Paha R At Wewela Sd | 57 cfs | → |
| Long Pine Creek Near Riverview | 157 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Baker Dam.
Boat launches
- Hull Lake Wma
- Gregory County
- North Wheeler Road Charles Mix County
- 293rd Street Charles Mix County
- 376th Avenue Charles Mix County
Campgrounds
- North Wheeler State Rec Area
- Pease Creek Rec Area
- North Point - Lake Francis Case
- Randall Creek Park - Lake Francis Case
- Burke Lake State Rec Area
- Platte Creek State Rec Area
More reservoirs
Track Baker 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 Baker Dam
Where does the data for Baker 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 Baker Dam.