Thompson Ranch Dam dam
Thompson Ranch Dam
Thompson Ranch Dam in South Dakota, completed in 2003, is a private earth dam standing at 22 feet high and with a storage capacity of 78 acre-feet. Located in Fall River County along the TR Hay Canyon stream, this dam serves as a vital water resource for the region, with a moderate risk assessment rating of 3. With a low hazard potential and not yet rated in terms of condition assessment, the dam is regulated and inspected by the state's DENR agency.
Owned by a private entity and designed by USDA NRCS, Thompson Ranch Dam plays a crucial role in managing water flow and storage in the area. The dam's uncontrolled spillway, with a width of 80 feet, can handle a maximum discharge of 1080 cubic feet per second. Despite not having outlet gates, the dam has a normal storage capacity of 37 acre-feet and covers a drainage area of 2 square miles.
As a key infrastructure in water resource management, Thompson Ranch Dam contributes to the sustainable utilization of water for various purposes. With its strategic location and design, this dam is essential in ensuring water availability for agricultural, industrial, and environmental needs in the region. Maintaining and monitoring the dam's condition is crucial to guarantee its safety and functionality in the face of changing climate 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 Thompson Ranch Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Cheyenne R Near Buffalo Gap Sd | 56 cfs | → |
| Beaver Cr Near Buffalo Gap Sd | 2 cfs | → |
| Horsehead Cr At Oelrichs Sd | · | → |
| Cheyenne R Below Angostura Dam Sd | 1 cfs | → |
| White R Near Oglala Sd | 101 cfs | → |
| Fall R At Hot Springs Sd | 34 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Thompson Ranch Dam.
Boat launches
- Fall River County
- South Boat Ramp Road Fall River County
- Sheps Canyon Road Fall River County
- County Highway 6d Fall River County
Campgrounds
- Angostura State Rec Area
- French Creek
- French Creek Campground
- French Creek Camping Area
- Elk Mountain Campground
- Elk Mountain - Wind Cave National Park
Track Thompson 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 Thompson Ranch Dam
Where does the data for Thompson 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 Thompson Ranch Dam.