Blair Dam

COTTONWOOD CREEK· Meade, South Dakota· Built 1985· Earth· 18 ft tall

Key Takeaway

Blair Dam is classified as low hazard in South Dakota. It was completed in 1985 and is 41 years old. Its primary use is fire protection.

Physical Details

Dam Height 18 ft (taller than 24.1% in SD)
Dam Length300 ft
Dam TypeEarth
Max Storage240 acre-ft
Normal Storage120 acre-ft
Max Discharge760 cfs
Year Completed1985 (41 years old)
NID IDSD02231

Safety Information

Low Hazard

No probable loss of human life and low economic/environmental losses expected.

Hazard potential describes downstream consequences of failure, not the dam's current condition. What does this mean?

Emergency Action Plan: No
State Regulated: Yes
Regulatory Agency: DANR

Ownership

ED BLAIR

Private

Nearby Dams

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the hazard classification of Blair Dam?

Blair Dam is classified as Low Hazard. No probable loss of human life and low economic/environmental losses expected. This classification refers to the potential downstream consequences of a failure, not the dam's current structural condition.

Who owns and operates Blair Dam?

Blair Dam is owned by ED BLAIR (Private). The owner is responsible for maintenance, inspections, and compliance with dam safety regulations.

When was Blair Dam built?

Blair Dam was completed in 1985, making it 41 years old. Many U.S. dams were built between the 1930s and 1970s during a period of major infrastructure investment.

What is the primary purpose of Blair Dam?

Blair Dam serves the following purposes: Fire Protection, Stock, Or Small Fish Pond, Irrigation. Many dams in the U.S. are multi-purpose, supporting flood control, water supply, recreation, and other uses.

How tall is Blair Dam?

Blair Dam has a dam height of 18 ft. Dam height is measured from the natural streambed at the downstream toe to the top of the dam, and may differ from the visible height.

Data from the National Inventory of Dams (NID) maintained by the US Army Corps of Engineers. Dam conditions may have changed since the last update. This site is not affiliated with USACE. Do not use for emergency planning — contact your local dam safety program.