Dry Lake Dam dam
Dry Lake Dam
Dry Lake Dam, located in Brookings, South Dakota, is a Federal-owned structure designed by Ducks Unlimited, Inc. The dam serves as a Fish and Wildlife Pond, with a primary purpose of providing habitat and water resources for wildlife in the area. Completed in 1997, the dam stands at a height of 23 feet and has a storage capacity of 2935 acre-feet, making it a key component in managing water resources in the region.
With a low hazard potential and fair condition assessment, Dry Lake Dam plays a crucial role in flood control and water management in the area. The dam features a controlled spillway with a width of 50 feet and other controlled outlet gates to regulate water flow. The structure is regularly inspected by the Fish and Wildlife Service, with the last assessment conducted in September 2020. Despite its low hazard potential, the dam is categorized as having a very high risk assessment, emphasizing the importance of ongoing monitoring and maintenance to ensure its continued safety and functionality for the surrounding environment and wildlife.
Dry Lake Dam's location in a drainage area with a surface area of 350 acres and a drainage area of 9.73 square miles highlights its significance in mitigating potential water-related risks and providing essential resources for local ecosystems. As a key component in the region's water infrastructure, the dam serves as a testament to the collaborative efforts of various stakeholders in managing and preserving water resources for both wildlife and the community.
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 Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Big Sioux River Near Bruce | 250 cfs | → |
| Big Sioux River Near Brookings Sd | 280 cfs | → |
| Big Sioux R Near Castlewood Sd | 82 cfs | → |
| Flandreau Cr Above Flandreau Sd | 1 cfs | → |
| Skunk Cr Nr Chester Sd | 0 cfs | → |
| Big Sioux R At Watertown Sd | 18 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Dry Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- 454th Avenue 19689, Kingsbury County
- Brookings County
- Sunset Road Brookings County
- Hamlin County
- 458th Avenue Hamlin County
- 212th Street 44254, Kingsbury County
Track Dry Lake 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 Dry Lake Dam
Where does the data for Dry Lake 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 Dry Lake Dam.