South Okreek dam
South Okreek
South Okreek is a Federal-owned dam located in Okreek, South Dakota, with a primary purpose of serving as a Fish and Wildlife Pond. This earth dam was completed in 1935, with a structural height of 25 feet and a length of 327 feet, providing a storage capacity of 66 acre-feet. The dam is associated with the Bureau of Indian Affairs, who also handle the funding, design, construction, regulation, inspection, and operation of the structure.
Despite its relatively small size and storage capacity, South Okreek is deemed to have a high hazard potential. The dam does not have a spillway and its condition assessment is currently listed as "Not Available". There is no Emergency Action Plan (EAP) in place, and the inspection frequency is listed as 0. Given the lack of available data on the dam's current condition and risk management measures, further assessment and potential improvements may be necessary to ensure the safety and reliability of the structure for both the surrounding community and the environment.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, South Okreek presents an interesting case study in dam management and safety. With its location in Todd County, near the Oak Creek stream, the dam serves multiple purposes including fire protection, stock watering, and recreational activities in addition to its primary function as a fish and wildlife pond. The presence of a high hazard potential underscores the importance of proactive maintenance and monitoring to mitigate any potential risks associated with the structure, making it a valuable site for ongoing research and analysis in the field of water resource management.
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 South Okreek -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Keya Paha R Near Keyapaha Sd | 25 cfs | → |
| Little White R Near Rosebud Sd | 137 cfs | → |
| Little White R Below White River Sd | 117 cfs | → |
| Niobrara River Near Sparks | 798 cfs | → |
| White River Near White River | 40 cfs | → |
| Keya Paha R At Wewela Sd | 62 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near South Okreek.
More reservoirs
Track South Okreek 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 South Okreek
Where does the data for South Okreek 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 High 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 South Okreek.