Bill Welk Dam dam
Bill Welk Dam
Bill Welk Dam, located in Brown County, South Dakota, is a privately owned structure regulating the flow of Foot Creek. Completed in 1996, this earth dam stands at a height of 15 feet and has a storage capacity of 441 acre-feet, with a normal storage level of 126 acre-feet. With a low hazard potential and a condition assessment of "Not Rated," the dam has not been inspected recently, but it is state-regulated and has state permitting, inspection, and enforcement in place.
Despite being a private dam, Bill Welk Dam falls under the jurisdiction of the South Dakota Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), ensuring compliance with state regulations. The dam's primary purpose and associated structures are not specified, but it serves to control the flow of water in the region. The dam has a spillway width that is not provided, but its maximum discharge capacity is 5000 cubic feet per second, making it important for flood control and water resource management in the area.
With its strategic location in the St. Paul District of the US Army Corps of Engineers, Bill Welk Dam plays a crucial role in managing water resources in Brown County. While the dam's emergency action plan and risk assessment details are not available, its presence underscores the importance of proper dam maintenance and monitoring for environmental and climate enthusiasts 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 Bill Welk Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Foot Creek Near Aberdeen | 115 cfs | → |
| Elm R At Westport Sd | 31 cfs | → |
| James R At Columbia Sd | 653 cfs | → |
| Maple R At Nd-Sd State Line | 15 cfs | → |
| James R Near Stratford Sd | 779 cfs | → |
| James River At Nd-Sd State Line | 697 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Bill Welk Dam.
Boat launches
- 127th Street 37861, Brown County
- County Road 13 Brown County
- 382nd Avenue Brown County
- County Road 6 Brown County
Campgrounds
- Group Area Camping
- Richmond Lake State Rec Area
- Group Area
- Wylie Park City Campground
- Mina State Rec Area
- Melgaard Park
More reservoirs
Track Bill Welk 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 Bill Welk Dam
Where does the data for Bill Welk 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 Bill Welk Dam.