Waletich Dam dam
Waletich Dam
Waletich Dam, located in South Dakota along the TR-Little Minnesota River, stands as a testament to innovative engineering and sustainable water resource management. Completed in 2000 by the USDA NRCS, this earth dam boasts a height of 29 feet and a length of 540 feet, providing a storage capacity of 65 acre-feet. With a low hazard potential and a moderate risk assessment rating, the dam plays a crucial role in flood control and water supply management in the region.
Owned and regulated by a private entity, Waletich Dam is subject to state oversight by DENR, ensuring that the dam meets all necessary safety and inspection requirements. Despite its uncontrolled spillway and lack of outlet gates, the dam has proven to be a reliable structure in managing the flow of the Little Minnesota River. The presence of Dusty Johnson (R) as the local congressional representative further underscores the importance of this dam in the region's water resource infrastructure.
With its strategic location and vital role in water resource management, Waletich Dam serves as a beacon of resilience and sustainability in the face of changing climate patterns. As water resource and climate enthusiasts, the intricate details of Waletich Dam's design and operation offer valuable insights into the intersection of engineering, regulation, and environmental stewardship in ensuring the long-term viability of water resources in South Dakota.
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 Waletich Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Little Minnesota River Near Peever | 53 cfs | → |
| Bois De Sioux River Near White Rock | 94 cfs | → |
| Wild Rice River Nr Rutland | 50 cfs | → |
| Big Sioux River Nr Florence Sd | 7 cfs | → |
| Whetstone River Near Big Stone City | 63 cfs | → |
| Minnesota River At Ortonville | 84 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Waletich Dam.
Boat launches
- Mn 27 4924, Traverse County
- Mn 27 4906, Traverse County
- Roy Lake State Park
- T149 5800, Traverse County
- Roberts County
- Tewaukon Township
Campgrounds
- Browns Valley City Park
- Traverse County. Park Campground
- Waubay City Campground
- Big Stone Lake State Park Campground
- Chamber Of Commerce Campground - Webster
- Webster City Park
More reservoirs
Track Waletich 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 Waletich Dam
Where does the data for Waletich 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 Waletich Dam.