May & Sons Dam dam
May & Sons Dam
May & Sons Dam, located in Jackson, South Dakota, is a privately owned structure that serves as a crucial water resource for the surrounding area. Completed in 1979, this Earth-type dam has a height of 24 feet and a storage capacity of 270 acre-feet. Situated on a tributary of Potato Creek, the dam plays a vital role in regulating water flow and providing irrigation for agricultural purposes in the region.
Managed by the Natural Resources Conservation Service, May & Sons Dam is subject to state regulations and inspections to ensure its safety and effectiveness. With a low hazard potential and a current condition assessment of "Not Rated," the dam continues to fulfill its primary purpose of water storage and management. Despite not having a designated emergency action plan or inundation maps prepared, the dam remains a key infrastructure for water conservation and climate resilience efforts in the area.
Although lacking some detailed risk assessment and emergency preparedness measures, the May & Sons Dam stands as a testament to private sector involvement in water resource management. With its strategic location and capacity to store and regulate water, this dam contributes significantly to the ecological and agricultural sustainability of the region, making it a noteworthy site for water resource and climate enthusiasts to monitor and support.
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 May & Sons Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Bear In The Lodge Cr Near Wanblee Sd | 10 cfs | → |
| White R Near Interior Sd | 43 cfs | → |
| Little White R Near Martin Sd | 13 cfs | → |
| White R Near Kadoka Sd | 55 cfs | → |
| Lake Cr Below Refuge Near Tuthill Sd | 0 cfs | → |
| Lake Cr Above Refuge Near Tuthill Sd | 26 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near May & Sons Dam.
Track May & Sons 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 May & Sons Dam
Where does the data for May & Sons 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 May & Sons Dam.