Harris Dam dam
Harris Dam
Harris Dam, located in Bennett, South Dakota, is a privately owned earth dam completed in 1940 with a primary purpose not specified. The dam stands at a height of 24 feet and has a length of 175 feet, with a storage capacity of 96 acre-feet. It is regulated by the South Dakota Department of Environment and Natural Resources, with state permitting, inspection, and enforcement in place. The dam is situated on a tributary of the Little White River and falls under the jurisdiction of the St. Paul District of the US Army Corps of Engineers.
Despite being classified as having a low hazard potential, Harris Dam poses a moderate risk due to its condition assessment being marked as "Not Rated." The dam's spillway is uncontrolled and has a width of 40 feet, with a maximum discharge capacity of 1350 cubic feet per second. The risk management measures and emergency action plan status for the dam are not specified in the data. With its historical significance dating back to the 1940s and its vital role in water resource management in the region, Harris Dam remains an important infrastructure for the local community and ecosystem.
Water resource and climate enthusiasts interested in the intricacies of dam infrastructure and risk assessment will find Harris Dam to be a fascinating case study. With its unique design characteristics, historical importance, and regulatory oversight, the dam presents a compelling subject for further exploration and research. As efforts to enhance dam safety and resilience continue to evolve, Harris Dam serves as a valuable example of the intersection between water resource management, climate adaptation, and infrastructure development in a changing world.
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 Harris Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Little White R Near Martin Sd | 12 cfs | → |
| Lake Cr Above Refuge Near Tuthill Sd | 26 cfs | → |
| Lake Cr Below Refuge Near Tuthill Sd | 0 cfs | → |
| Bear In The Lodge Cr Near Wanblee Sd | 10 cfs | → |
| Little White R Near Vetal Sd | 46 cfs | → |
| White R Near Interior Sd | 19 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Harris Dam.
Track Harris 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 Harris Dam
Where does the data for Harris 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 Harris Dam.