Swayze Irr. Dam dam
Swayze Irr. Dam
Swayze Irrigation Dam, located in Roberts, South Dakota, stands as a vital water resource infrastructure that has been serving the area since its completion in 1981. Owned privately, the dam is regulated by the South Dakota Department of Environment and Natural Resources, ensuring its proper maintenance and operation. With a height of 21 feet and a storage capacity of 66 acre-feet, the dam plays a crucial role in managing water resources in the region, specifically along the Dry Draw river.
Managed by the Natural Resources Conservation Service, Swayze Irrigation Dam features an earth dam type with an uncontrolled spillway, providing essential flood control measures in the area. Despite being rated as having a low hazard potential, the dam is considered to have a moderate risk factor, highlighting the importance of regular inspection and maintenance to ensure its structural integrity. With Dusty Johnson (R) serving as the local Congressional Representative, the dam's significance in water resource management is underscored, particularly in the face of climate change challenges.
As water resource and climate enthusiasts, the monitoring and upkeep of infrastructure like Swayze Irrigation Dam are crucial for ensuring sustainable water management in the face of evolving environmental conditions. With a focus on risk assessment and management, as well as the involvement of regulatory agencies like the DENR, the dam serves as a vital piece of infrastructure in safeguarding water resources for the community. As such, continued attention and investment in the maintenance of Swayze Irrigation Dam are essential for safeguarding water security and resilience in 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 Swayze Irr. Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Little Minnesota River Near Peever | 56 cfs | → |
| Big Sioux River Nr Florence Sd | 7 cfs | → |
| Whetstone River Near Big Stone City | 64 cfs | → |
| Minnesota River At Ortonville | 81 cfs | → |
| Big Sioux R Near Watertown Sd | 30 cfs | → |
| Yellow Bank River Near Odessa | 69 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Swayze Irr. Dam.
Boat launches
- Mn 27 4906, Traverse County
- Mn 27 4924, Traverse County
- Roberts County
- T149 5800, Traverse County
- Rocky Point Big Stone City
- Roy Lake State Park
Track Swayze Irr. 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 Swayze Irr. Dam
Where does the data for Swayze Irr. 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 Swayze Irr. Dam.