Dry Run Subimpoundment dam
Dry Run Subimpoundment
Dry Run Subimpoundment, located in Brown County, South Dakota, is a federal-owned earth dam that was completed in 1994. With a height of 10 feet and a storage capacity of 260 acre-feet, this structure plays a crucial role in managing the flow of Dry Run Creek and providing flood protection to the surrounding area. Despite having a low hazard potential, the dam is currently not rated for its condition and does not have a formal emergency action plan in place.
Managed by the St. Paul District of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Dry Run Subimpoundment serves as a vital water resource infrastructure in the region. With a drainage area of 90 square miles and a maximum discharge capacity of 2000 cubic feet per second, the dam plays a key role in regulating water flow and mitigating the risk of flooding downstream. While the dam's condition assessment is pending, its low hazard potential underscores the importance of ongoing monitoring and maintenance to ensure its continued safety and effectiveness.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Dry Run Subimpoundment presents a fascinating case study in dam engineering and water management. As a Federal-owned structure on Dry Run Creek, this earth dam highlights the intersection of infrastructure, environmental stewardship, and public safety. With its completion in 1994 and a storage capacity of 260 acre-feet, the dam stands as a testament to the ongoing efforts to balance the needs of water resource management with the imperative of safeguarding communities against the impacts of extreme weather events and flooding.
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 Dry Run Subimpoundment -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| James River At Nd-Sd State Line | 668 cfs | → |
| Maple R At Nd-Sd State Line | 12 cfs | → |
| James R At Columbia Sd | 618 cfs | → |
| Elm R At Westport Sd | 28 cfs | → |
| Foot Creek Near Aberdeen | 104 cfs | → |
| Bear Creek Nr Oakes | 11 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Dry Run Subimpoundment.
Boat launches
- 101st Street Southeast Dickey County
- County Road 6 Brown County
- 127th Street 37861, Brown County
- 382nd Avenue Brown County
- County Road 13 Brown County
Track Dry Run Subimpoundment 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 Dry Run Subimpoundment
Where does the data for Dry Run Subimpoundment 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 Dry Run Subimpoundment.