Fairview Ranch Dam dam
Fairview Ranch Dam
Fairview Ranch Dam, also known as Haines Dam, is a private-owned earth dam located in Perkins, South Dakota, along the TR.MOREAU River. Built in 2004 by USDA NRCS, this dam stands at 27 feet high and stretches 249 feet in length, providing storage capacity of 240 acre-feet. While the primary purpose of Fairview Ranch Dam is not specified, it serves as a crucial water resource management structure in the region, with a low hazard potential and moderate risk assessment rating.
Managed by the South Dakota Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Fairview Ranch Dam is state-regulated and regularly inspected for safety and compliance. Despite being uncontrolled, the dam features a 40-foot wide spillway to manage potential overflow. The dam's condition is currently not rated, but with a history of inspection dating back to October 2005, it remains a key component of the local water infrastructure. The dam's location within the St. Paul District of the USACE signifies its importance in flood control and water supply management for the area.
Fairview Ranch Dam's association with the TR.MOREAU River and its contribution to the local drainage area of 2 square miles highlight its significance in water resource management. With a capacity to handle a maximum discharge of 703 cubic feet per second, this earth dam plays a crucial role in mitigating flood risks and ensuring water availability for agricultural and environmental needs in Perkins, South Dakota. As a key structure in the region's water infrastructure, Fairview Ranch Dam stands as a testament to the importance of sustainable water resource management and climate resilience in the face of changing environmental conditions.
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 Fairview Ranch Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Moreau R Near Faith Sd | 78 cfs | → |
| South Fork Grand R Near Cash Sd | 25 cfs | → |
| North Fork Grand R Near White Butte Sd | 2 cfs | → |
| Cheyenne R Near Plainview Sd | 1,810 cfs | → |
| Belle Fourche R Near Sturgis Sd | 272 cfs | → |
| Belle Fourche River Near Elm Springs | 277 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Fairview Ranch Dam.
Track Fairview Ranch 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 Fairview Ranch Dam
Where does the data for Fairview Ranch 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 Fairview Ranch Dam.